"A Wonderful Day"

Laredo and Webb County community leaders gathered February 12th alongside US 59 to celebrate the start of work on the $360 million project to transform part of the Bob Bullock Loop into an interstate highway.

The project will extend I-69 West by approximately 4.7 miles on the east side of Laredo.  The contract award in August is the largest so far on the I-69 System in Texas.  This highway section between I-35 and the Laredo International Airport is currently an at-grade city boulevard.

Among those speaking at the groundbreaking event were State Senator Judith Zaffirini, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, Laredo Mayor Victor Trevino and Mayor Pro Tempore Ruben Gutierrez.

Sen. Zaffirini, dean of the Senate, called it a wonderful day for Laredo and thanked TxDOT for allocating state and federal funds to the biggest highway project in Webb County history.  She noted that what is good for Laredo, as the nation’s number one international trade crossing, is good for the state and nation. 

She noted that the Alliance for I-69 Texas has worked passionately since the 1990s with all levels of government to secure support for I-69 and to secure funding.  “And may they continue,” she said.  The City of Laredo, Webb County and IBC Bank are long-time members of the Alliance.

Congressman Cuellar called the Laredo Loop upgrade to I-69W a transformative project made possible in part by the passage of the federal bipartisan infrastructure bill (IIJA of 2021) and the efforts of state and local leaders.  He pointed out that Laredo will eventually be served by four interstate highway:  I-35 to San Antonio, I-69W to Houston and Corpus Christi, I-2 to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and I-27 to San Angelo, Midland and the Texas Panhandle.

Judge Tijerina, chairman of the Laredo MPO, said the I-69W loop upgrade project is particularly important because it will improve safety and save lives.  He was joined by Gutierrez and Councilman Tyler King in emphasizing how critical the project is to addressing safety concerns for local community commuters.

Feb. 12, 2024