Today Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), along with Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA-9), chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and representatives from the City of Laredo and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), announced today nearly $100 million in federal funds for eligible highway projects in Webb County under the new federal highway bill.

Lists and maps of the eligible highway projects in Laredo and Webb County can be found here.

Chairman Shuster was hosted by Congressman Cuellar and toured the vast international commerce infrastructure in Laredo, including the large volume of truck traffic that crosses over Laredo’s World Trade Bridge every day.

Aside from these federal funds, the new highway bill also designates as part of the national Primary Freight Network the stretch of Interstate Highway 35 (IH-35) between San Antonio and Laredo. This new designation recognizes the crucial role that the Laredo Port of Entry and IH-35 play in the nation’s economy and makes that stretch of road eligible for additional federal highway funding. The highway bill also helps Webb County by allowing border states to set aside funding specifically for border transportation infrastructure projects.

These local transportation changes could be a boost for commerce and transportation in Webb County, with new infrastructure projects creating jobs and lessening traffic congestion.

“Webb County is growing at a phenomenal rate of 38 percent since 2000, leading to traffic congestion,” Congressman Cuellar said. “This federal funding totaling $100 million for Webb County will be used to work on necessary projects on IH 35, US 59, and US 83 to help with transportation and commerce for both local residents and travelers.”

“The FAST Act will be one of the biggest accomplishments of this Congress because it helps repair and improve our roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure, from San Antonio to Pennsylvania, and everywhere throughout the United States,” Shuster said. “The FAST Act also makes a number of key reforms that will make our transportation programs work better. The law gives more flexibility to states and local governments, who know their needs better than Washington bureaucrats, it cuts federal red tape that slows down projects, and it focuses on priorities that will help grow the economy, like moving freight along I-35 and other critical transportation corridors across the country. I appreciate Congressman Cuellar’s work in helping move this important jobs legislation through the Congress.”