Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
The annual Alliance for I-69 Texas board meeting and luncheon in Houston brought together local leaders, transportation officials, and lawmakers to highlight ongoing progress on the I-69 system and to call for continued investment across the state. A significant focus of the meeting was the $165 million project now underway to upgrade a seven-mile stretch of highway north of Edinburg to full Interstate standards. Construction has begun to raise the roadway, widen it, realign utilities, and build continuous access roads.
According to Teclo Garcia, CEO of Mission Economic Development, he was present and emphasized the project’s regional importance. He thanked TXDOT for the substantial investment and noted that the improvements “will benefit Mission and the entire Rio Grande Valley,” reflecting the local support for accelerating mobility and economic growth along the corridor.
Attendees also heard from East Texas Congressman Brian Babin, a longtime supporter of the I-69 system. Babin delivered what organizers described as an uplifting message about the significance of the interstate’s ongoing development. In prior public remarks about newly designated segments of I-69, Babin has called the progress “a tremendous opportunity … to see this project starting to come to fruition,” describing the expansion as “a proud moment” after decades of planning. He has also stressed that the interstate network is about “connecting the people, supporting local businesses, and ensuring that rural Texas continues to thrive alongside our growing cities.”
Alliance leaders, including Executive Director Jennifer Shepard and board chair Sydney Murphy, highlighted that the Edinburg-to-Linn/San Manuel project is one of dozens underway or planned from South Texas to Texarkana. Their efforts focus on securing long-term funding and completing the more than 1,000 miles of I-69 designated in Texas.
Speakers at the luncheon highlighted that the widening and modernization of U.S. 59, U.S. 77, and U.S. 281 will enhance safety, improve mobility, and strengthen trade routes across the Southwest. With continuing coordination between TXDOT, local governments, and federal partners, supporters say the interstate system is steadily becoming a reality that will support both rural and urban communities for decades to come.
