Transportation
Services
The city of Sweetwater finds it roots in the Texas & Pacific
Railroad. Keeping strong with its foundation, Sweetwater is a
hub of transportation and activity. Its location on interstate
20, its position at the intersection of two railroads, in addition
to the availability of a large airstrip, makes Sweetwater unique
in terms of accessibility.
Air
Air service is available at Sweetwater Municipal Airport, also
called Avenger Field, a general utility airfield owned and operated
by the city.
Number
of Runways
|
2 |
| Elevation |
2,378.76
feet |
| Runway
Length |
5,800
feet |
| Runway
Surface |
Paved |
| Lighted |
Yes |
| Fuel |
Yes |
| Instrument
Landing System |
No |
| Nearest
Commercial Air Service |
Abilene
Municipal Airport: American Airlines, Alligant Air, Continental Airlines.
Midland Regional Airport:
Southwest, American Airlines Lubbock International |
| Distance
to Abilene Airport |
45
miles |
Avenger
Field was once home to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs),
who served in World War II. Anticipating that all qualified American
men and women would be required to fight in a global war, the
U.S. military began training women to fly U.S. Army airplanes
in 1943. The flight training was essentially the same as that
for men.
WASPs
ferried planes, towed targets, flew tracking missions and did
smoke-laying. They simulated bombing missions and many other functions.
Thirty-eight WASPs died in service.
By
mid-1944, however, as the demand for pilots began to slacken,
pressure from men in the U.S. Congress forced the program to close
by refusing to reappropriate their funding. The program was officially
disbanded on Dec. 7, 1944--the third anniversary of the attack
on Pearl Harbor.
Call (325) 235-8478 for more information about Avenger Field.
Freight
Carriers
Sweetwater has eight interstate and five intrastate carriers,
as well as four local terminals. Highway bus service and overnight
courier service are also available.
| Federal
Express |
Abilene |
1.800.463.3339 |
| DHL |
San
Angelo |
1.800.225.5345 |
| UPS |
Abilene |
1.325.692.9643 |
| Central
Freight Lines |
Abilene |
1.800.375.2828 |
Other Carriers : |
|
|
| E.L.
Farmer |
Sweetwater |
1.325.236.9555 |
| Dent
Trucking |
Sweetwater |
1.325.235.5814 |
| Lone
Star Transportation |
Sweetwater |
1.325.235.4523 |
| Carney
Enterprises |
Sweetwater |
1.325.235.8960 |
| Running
H Trucking |
Roscoe |
1.325.766.3331 |
Highways
Sweetwater sits at the crossroads of U.S. I-20 and Highways 70
and 84. Highway 84 is a major divided, four-lane road connecting
Sweetwater to Lubbock, approximately 120 miles northwest. Because
of the central locale, businesses can easily access the Mexican
markets and markets on the East and West Coasts.
Rail
Today, the Sweetwater community boasts access to two rail lines--both
the Burlington North Santa Fe and the Union Pacific. Few communities
comparable in size to Sweetwater in the U.S. can lay a similar
claim. Competition between the two rail companies ensures the
lowest possible freight rates and access to markets nationwide.
