Innovation Over I-20: Modular Bridge Speeds Up Texas Highway Project

ODESSA, TX – January 29, 2026 – Along a critical stretch of Interstate 20, a major artery for the Texas oil and gas industry, an unusual structure has risen above the traffic. It’s not a new overpass for cars, but a 100-foot-long modular steel bridge sitting on stilts, designed for a single purpose: to carry a conveyor belt of concrete over the bustling highway. This innovative solution, engineered by Acrow, is a key component in a multi-year effort to widen the interstate, demonstrating a significant leap forward in construction logistics and efficiency.

Project contractor Sundt Construction, tasked with a $237.9 million segment of the massive I-20 expansion, faced a logistical puzzle: how to move massive quantities of concrete from a batch plant on one side of the interstate to the construction zone on the other without adding to traffic congestion or slowing down the project. The answer came in the form of a custom-designed temporary bridge from Acrow, a company with a long history in modular bridging solutions.

An Engineered Solution for a Critical Corridor

The I-20 corridor in the Midland-Odessa region is more than just a highway; it is the economic lifeline of the Permian Basin. Plagued by heavy traffic and safety concerns, the roadway has been a focal point for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which has launched a $1.35 billion, 10-year initiative to improve the route. The project aims to add lanes, build new interchanges, and enhance overall safety to accommodate the region's projected growth.

To meet the ambitious timeline, Sundt needed to bypass conventional material transport methods. Acrow's team worked with the contractor's concept to design an aerial bridge that functions as a sophisticated conveyor system. The single-span structure, assembled on-site and lifted into place by a crane, is supported by a substructure of stilts provided by Sundt, eliminating the need for traditional, time-consuming abutment construction.

“Acrow’s design team creates durable, custom solutions for its customers, even on highly specialized projects like this application,” said Dan Schrager, Acrow’s Business Development Manager for the Southwest. “Recognizing the importance of I-20 in the Odessa-Midland area, Acrow’s modular steel bridge will help speed up the project completion and lower the amount of time that travelers have to deal with the inconvenience of vital roadway construction.”

The bridge is designed to support the weight of the conveyor equipment, the concrete materials, and the crew operating the system. It is expected to remain operational for approximately two years, a testament to the durability required for such a demanding construction environment.

Accelerating Timelines and Minimizing Disruption

The primary benefit of the aerial conveyor bridge is a dramatic increase in project efficiency. By creating a direct, unimpeded path for materials, the system allows for continuous concrete pouring, a critical factor in large-scale highway paving. This approach is expected to significantly shorten the overall construction timeline, a goal emphasized by all parties involved.

“It was incredibly important to Sundt Construction and TxDOT to minimize the time it takes to widen I-20, improve interchanges and enhance the highway’s safety features,” added Eugene Sobecki, Acrow's Director of National Sales and Military Business Development. “The unique Acrow structure will serve to ensure the project is delivered quickly, safely and efficiently and help accelerate the overall construction timeline.”

While specific data for this project is forthcoming, industry studies on similar modular solutions underscore the potential impact. Research from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has shown that Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) methods, which include the use of prefabricated modular components, can reduce construction timelines by 50 to 70 percent and cut total project costs by up to 40 percent. These solutions also drastically reduce the need for temporary works—by as much as 90 percent in some cases—thereby minimizing traffic disruption, a welcome relief for local residents and commercial drivers who have expressed frustration with ongoing construction.

The Rise of Agile Infrastructure

The I-20 project is a powerful case study for a broader trend in the construction industry: the move toward agile, temporary, and modular infrastructure. The global market for temporary bridges was valued at over $1.2 billion in 2023 and continues to grow, driven by the need for rapid, cost-effective, and less disruptive building methods.

Acrow, a 70-year veteran in the field, is one of the leaders in this space. Its modular systems, made from high-strength U.S. steel, are designed for rapid deployment and installation with minimal skilled labor. The components are prefabricated, precision-engineered, and galvanized for durability, allowing them to be assembled, disassembled, and reused across multiple projects. This reusability not only provides cost savings but also aligns with growing demands for more sustainable construction practices by reducing material waste and the carbon footprint associated with on-site fabrication.

This shift toward modularity is changing how complex projects are approached. Instead of building cumbersome, site-specific temporary structures from scratch, contractors can now deploy pre-engineered systems that are adaptable in length, width, and strength, offering unprecedented flexibility to overcome logistical hurdles.

A New Paradigm for Future Projects

The applications for such agile infrastructure extend far beyond highway construction. The same principles of rapid deployment and modularity are invaluable in a variety of scenarios. In disaster relief, temporary bridges can be deployed within days to restore critical access to communities cut off by floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes. In urban development, they provide detours for traffic and pedestrians, keeping cities moving during major construction.

These systems are also used to provide access to remote industrial sites for energy and mining operations, for military tactical applications, and even to support large-scale public events. The ability to install these bridges quickly, often without heavy cranes using cantilever launch methods, makes them suitable for nearly any environment.

The stilted conveyor bridge over I-20 is more than just a clever piece of engineering; it represents a strategic shift in how we build. By prioritizing efficiency, safety, and minimal public disruption, this project serves as a model for future infrastructure development. It showcases how temporary, modular solutions can play a permanent role in building the essential infrastructure of tomorrow, delivering complex projects faster and more effectively than ever before.