On February 28, with gratitude for his service and good wishes for future endeavors, TxDOT celebrated the retirement of Waco District Engineer Bobby Littlefield. From January 2013 until this month, Littlefield served the communities along the I-35 corridor, advising and supervising completions to the highway's massive construction projects, among other efforts.
Littlefield's extensive career is rooted in TxDOT. His career with the agency started back in 1984 as an engineering assistant at the Sulphur Springs Area Office, the same year he graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in civil engineering. "When I started with TxDOT as a graduate engineer, my main goal was to get as much engineering experience as possible and become licensed as a Professional Engineer," he says. "I really did not have any great ambitions at the time, certainly not to be a District Engineer; I assumed that as long as I worked hard and did my best, those promotions during my career would naturally happen."
Working his way up through the engineering ranks, in 1993 Littlefield became Area Engineer at the Sherman Area Office in the Paris District. He was named Paris District Engineer in 2003 and served in that position until he was chosen to lead TxDOT's Waco District in 2013.
At that time, the I-35 reconstruction effort was well under way, and TxDOT was due for a new District Engineer following Richard Skopik's retirement. Having Littlefield join the Waco District was a great relief to local community leaders and proved a great asset to the TxDOT program. His main goals in coming to Waco were to provide leadership, particularly regarding the I-35 project, and to improve safety in the district.
He succeeded in both of those goals. At the beginning of Littlefield's tenure as District Engineer, there were still 66 long miles of construction left on the I-35 corridor. The total now is less than 21 miles left of the original dozen construction projects, and funding has been identified to begin the remaining work through Waco itself (pending confirmation by the Transportation Commission later this month).
Many more projects have seen completion during Littlefield's time with TxDOT, but certain successes stick out for him. "I-35 reconstruction through the City of West, and the I-35 Brazos River Bridges quickly come to mind as significant projects that, in addition to being valuable as new roadways, they also provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the public to enjoy," said Littlefield. "I feel extremely proud because, although I am usually the one representing TxDOT, I know that it took many dedicated people a lot of time and effort to get us to that point."
Another key achievement for Littlefield during his time as Waco district engineer is major advancement in the safety of TxDOT's workers and crews. In the last two years, there have been no injuries within the district, something that no other District Engineer can claim for their districts. "Having more than two years of zero workers' comp injuries in the Waco District is a validation of sorts that our safety culture is making great progress," said Littlefield. "To me, instilling a culture of safety is the most important thing we can do."
Littlefield says he hopes that the I-35 reconstruction project will continue as well as it has the last couple of years, and he's optimistic regarding TxDOT and its employees. "The future of TxDOT and the Waco District has never been better," said Littlefield. "In addition to I-35, we are making steady progress on expanding US 190, now designated as I-14, throughout Bell and Coryell Counties."
Now focused on post-retirement plans and his newly acquired free time, Littlefield said he's absolutely looking forward to the upcoming years. "My retirement is coming at a good time for me personally, as I am still young and healthy enough (in my mind) to enjoy life and pursue a second career if I choose to do so," Littlefield said. "Regardless of where I am, though, I will always be a member of the TxDOT family and have their best interests at heart."
Jake Smith
I-35 Public Information Officer
254-867-2705
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