Building the Road to Opportunity

Building roads is vital for Texas and its economy. Even so, it’s no secret that hiring enough workers for this profession has become a critical problem. As many as 80 percent of highway contractors face considerable challenges in finding qualified workers. Without a highly skilled workforce, how will the industry continue to effectively deliver a safe and efficient highway system?

In a first-of-its kind effort that was developed through the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), the Federal Highway Administration Highway Construction Workforce Partnership (HCWP) was established to build an industry-formed training program. Working alongside the Blinn College District, TTI and the Texas Asphalt Pavement Association (TXAPA) took the first steps to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills for embarking on a career in the heavy highway industry, with the promise of high wages.

The comprehensive three-month program began in the summer at the Texas A&M RELLIS Campus in Bryan, Texas. With a focus on asphalt paving, the program provides students with an introduction to the numerous jobs that are available within the industry. Workers who want to grow in the field have plenty of opportunities for increased responsibilities and higher salaries. Six-figure incomes are not uncommon.

“The vision of this program is to take individuals looking for an alternative to college or those interested in a career change and provide them with a sustainable career,” says TTI Research Engineer Charles Gurganus. “Growth is at the heart of this industry, and heavy highway construction offers an opportunity for individuals to build their own career path in their own unique way.”

• OSHA 10 certification. 
• Life skills training. 
• Flagger certification. 
• The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s 16-hour work zone traffic control training. 
• Job site mathematics. 
• Plan and specification reading. 
• TXAPA Level 1B hot-mix asphalt (HMA) technician training. 
• TXAPA Level 1A HMA technician training. 
• TXAPA soils and aggregates training. 
• HMA production testing in a laboratory environment. 
• Hands-on equipment experience with an HMA paver, roller, broom and skid steer. 

“This program exemplifies that if you build it, they will come,” Gurganus notes. “Our inaugural cohort is a testament to the demand for programs that impart these intricate technical skills, which are often in short supply. We’re providing a unique platform that has no parallel in the Brazos Valley area, and it is truly transformative for those individuals who would otherwise not have had exposure to this industry.”

So, what’s next for HCWP? The program welcomed its second group of students in spring/summer 2024 for a 10-to-12-week program that includes a more refined training of the original 15-week course. In the long-run, HCWP hopes to lay a foundation for heavy highway infrastructure career building within the Brazos Valley and serve as a model that can be replicated in the future throughout the state.

“What sets this program apart is not just the curriculum but the extensive support it has received, which in turn has empowered both the participants and the work they aspire to achieve,” emphasizes TXAPA Director of Engineering and Technology Jim Warren. “From the beginning, strong community backing has created an environment that will nurture leaders for years to come. I am eager to see the promising journey that awaits these students and the program.”

Thanks to support from TTI, TXAPA, the Blinn College District, the Texas Department of Transportation, the National Center for Infrastructure Transformation, Knife River, BPI and Big Creek Construction, Ltd., the vision of the HCWP program is made possible.