- UTRGV Recognized By ED As Among Schools ‘Doing The Most To Lift Students Up’
- Halloween is a Tradition That Dates Back Many Years
- Esteban Cabrera – December 26, 1945 – October 11, 2024
- Ready for District
- Harlingen Opens First Pump Track in South Texas
- ACE Flag Football
- La Feria ISD Hires Chief of Police for District
- Three Ways To Protect Migratory Birds This Fall
- Goodwill and the RGV Vipers Team Up for a Skills Camp
- Santa Rosa ISD Offers Law Enforcement Cadet Program
Congressman Vela, Federal Highway Administrator and CCRMA To Open SH 550
- Updated: June 7, 2013
Congressman Filemon Vela and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez will join state and local leaders to officially open the State Highway 550. The $41 million project relied on $34.1 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and $6.9 million in funds from Cameron County.
The highway project is a new location from just north of FM 3248 to SH 48 in Brownsville. The project was a cooperative effort between the Federal Highway Administration, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA), and the Brownsville Navigation District.
“The infrastructure investments throughout my district are a critical catalyst for future job growth and economic development opportunities in the competitive global marketplace. The commercial activity along the border and in and around the Port of Brownsville will allow this corridor to become a vital epicenter of international trade. I thank Administrator Mendez for joining me to see firsthand the level of activity taking place throughout South Texas,” Vela said.
The 3.9-mile-long enhancement project will improve connectivity from US 77/83 to the new entrance at the Port of Brownsville, enhance mobility and improve safety for the thousands who depend on this route daily by reducing stop-and-go traffic conditions.
“This project not only created jobs for Texas workers and improved American infrastructure, but will be a tremendous magnet for creating jobs through transportation and trade,” said Federal Highway Administrator Mendez. “This is exactly what ARRA funds were designed to do.”
Texas Transportation Commissioner Jeff Austin III, also on hand for the event added, “the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority is leading the way in Texas on how local decisions and the use of the innovative tools available to transportation projects create solutions for our communities. SH 550 provides for critical mobility and freight movements through this region and TxDOT is happy to be a partner on this project.”
“It is extremely important that our transportation infrastructure improvements continue to keep up with the population growth that Cameron County is experiencing, David E. Allex, Chairman of the CCCRMA stated. The ultimate build out of this project will provide for a much safer road, make commute for residents faster by not waiting at stop lights and at train intersections and create a better tomorrow for our future generations. In addition, this project will allow us to leverage the revenues realized to build other important projects sooner throughout the county and keep people employed.”
