Sandifer retires from TxDOT
Marcus Sandifer, the spokesman for the Northeast Texas District of TxDOT here in Atlanta, will be retiring this month after 35 years. In his place, Heather Wright Deaton will start today Wednesday, August 18. Sandifer leaves behind a dedication to his work and 35 years of experience.
Sandifer “began working for the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (as it was known then) on Feb. 10, 1986.” Officially, says Sandifer “I was hired as an administrative assistant in Planning and Right of Way, but, unofficially, I served as the Assistant Public Affairs Officer. At the time, the District Public Affairs Officer had to be a staff employee that knew about projects around the district and could talk to the media about them. Then it was our Director of Planning and Right of Way, Monte Wade, and I worked under him. I became the District Public Information Officer in 1994 when it became an official full-time position.”
Some of the most memorable experiences explain Sandifer were “the major construction projects like the work on Interstate 30 frontage roads and upgrading the overpasses in Texarkana. That project completed frontage roads from Farm to Market Road 989 (Kings Highway) in Nash to State Line Avenue in Texarkana, with routes under the crossing overpasses so motorists could travel the entire distance without having to go through a signalized intersection. It also included upgrading the overpass structures to include turnaround lanes that allow motorists to reach the opposite side of the interstate without having to wait through the signalized intersections.”
“Another major series of projects has widened US 59 throughout Northeast Texas from undivided two- and four-lane sections to four-lane divided highways that are much safer,” continued Sandifer. “Major weather events are also very memorable, whether it was the flooding of the Red River that threatened our bridges leading into Arkansas and Oklahoma or snow and ice storms that affect motorists everywhere it hits. In any case, it was always a battle to get the latest information out to the public and answering their calls for safe routes to their destinations. My most memorable incident was when two trains collided in Jefferson right at the US 59 overpass, knocking out one of the support columns for the bridge. The highway, a major north/south artery through East Texas had to be closed and traffic rerouted until repairs could be made. There was a lot of media coverage on that one.”
Over the years Sandifer has enjoyed a variety of things about his job, “I really enjoy the people I have worked with over the years, both at TxDOT and in the public. I enjoyed being able to get out of the office and travel around our nine-county district and even the state. Our employees are very close and we get to know each other and our families. We often refer to ourselves as a TxDOT family.”
“One particular thing that has brought me a lot of enjoyment is being part of a Tex & Dot puppet team that allowed us to visit children at schools throughout the district, teaching them about safety issues like wearing a safety belt or sitting in booster seats when traveling in a car, bicycle safety, proper ways to wait at a bus stop, getting onto the bus and proper etiquette when riding on one, avoiding distracted driving, etc,” Sandifer recalls.
After 35 years, it is time, says Sandifer. “I am ready for some rest and relaxation without worrying about the daily grind of the job that has become even more demanding with the advent of social media.”
Sandifer is looking forward to retirement, “My wife and I plan to spend some time camping and fishing, but also traveling more to see our six grandchildren. Our church is very active in mission work, especially in northern Mexico and I plan to become more active in that work also.”