Orange County residents are seeing another influx of “heavy haul” loads to the Golden Triangle Polymers Company site as GTPC begins its next phase of construction on the 1,600-acre site.
These heavy hauls will consist of more than 400 pieces of equipment and construction models. Special truck convoys will transport these large cargo loads – of more than 55,000 pounds each -- to the site, which is located on Texas Highway 87 across from the Orange County Airport.
Heavy haul deliveries began in late 2023 and are expected to continue through mid-2025.
To prepare, GTPC has constructed road expansions and made other road over the past six months on Highway 87, leading to the plant site and elsewhere, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation. GTPC has also renovated the Marine Offloading Facility, or MOF, on Cow Bayou to receive the equipment via barge before it is transported to the site.
GTPC will notify the public about heavy haul schedules so that motorists can plan their routes accordingly. Residents can get regular updates by following GTPC on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, formerly known as Twitter. Traffic management plans and maps showing road closures and detours are available on the project FAQs page on the GTPC website .
“GTPC sincerely thanks Orange County residents for their cooperation and understanding while we undertake this exciting and complex project,” said Heather Betancourth, Communications Lead for GTPC. “We look forward to sharing our success with the community and helping to foster economic growth in the region both in the coming years and when the plant becomes operational in 2026.”
What can residents of Orange County expect while heavy hauls are ongoing?
Company officials said they are using about 200 barges to transport the oversized and heavy cargo. Barges arrive at the Cow Bayou Marine Offloading Facility and travel north for 2.5 miles along Highway 87 to the site entrance. Modular transports move cargo from the barge to the construction site in fleets, which is designed to reduce the number of traffic delays. Each one-way trip takes about four hours. Heavy haul transports occur during the day and at night.
This video of a heavy haul transport at CPChem's Baytown facility demonstrates a similar technique to that which will be used in Orange County, Texas.
Will traffic be re-r outed?
GTPC is enlisting the assistance of local law enforcement to help with traffic re-routing. All road closures are made in accordance with TxDOT.
During heavy haul transports, Highway 87 between Cow Bayou and the project site will be closed. Traffic will be redirected to Highway 73 to FM 105 and on Foreman Road to FM 1006 to East Roundbunch Road.
Northbound Highway 87 in front of Bridge City High School will be rerouted into the southbound lane at Farm Drive. Highway 87 southbound to Highway 73 will be two-way, with one lane designated for southbound traffic and one lane designated for northbound traffic up to the barricade.
What road improvements have been made?
To ensure that heavy haul loads can be safely transported to the GTPC work site, GTPC has made an agreement with TxDOT that allows GTPC to fund and make necessary road improvements. These improvements are designed to improve traffic flow and withstand the weight of the heavy haul transports.
Initial road work began in March 2023 on the following locations:
- Highway 87 (from Cow Bayou [Knife River] to FM 105 [Western Avenue])
- Highway 62 at Highway 87
- The north side of FM 105 (Western Avenue) at Highway 87
- U.S. Highway 90 at Highway 87
- Foreman Road at FM 105 (Western Avenue)
- FM 1006 at Highway 87
- FM 1006 at Foreman Rd
Road work included surface improvements, the addition of turn lanes, reconfiguring intersections and other projects. GTPC has covered the costs for all road work performed to support the heavy-haul process.
Laying the Groundwork for a Bright Future
GTPC strives for transparency about heavy haul moves and road closures. GTPC staff welcome feedback from residents and will address questions and concerns in a timely manner.
To contact GTPC, please use the Contact Us form on the GTPC website or visit the GTPC public information office at 1537A Strickland Drive, Orange, Texas, 77630. The office is open to the public Monday through Thursday.