Congressman Cuellar Announces New Federal Funding to Help Complete Nearly $100 Million Worth of Laredo and Webb County Highway Projects

Statement

Today Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) announced that under the newly passed and signed five-year federal highway authorization bill, new money would be made available for $98,352,192 worth of Webb County transportation projects. A full list of these projects in Laredo proper as well as a map, and Webb County are attached.

"I am pleased to announce these additional funds for Webb County road projects," Congressman Cuellar said. "Thanks to the federal highway bill, Texas is estimated to receive more than $18 billion over the next five years. That is $2 billion more than provided under current funding levels. The road projects will include work on IH 35, US 59, and US 83, all local roads used daily by both Laredo and Webb County residents and travelers. These road improvement projects will help the commuting experience for local residents and enhance the flow of commercial traffic through the county.

"Since 2000, the population of Webb County has increased from 193,117 to approximately 266,673, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a population increase of 38 percent. This has led to a boom in traffic that slows down private vehicle traffic as well as the commercial traffic that drives the county's economy. This is why the new federal highway authorization legislation is so vitally important to Webb County."
The federal highway authorization bill was passed last week by both the House and Senate with resounding majorities. The bipartisan legislation was the first long-term highway authorization bill to be passed by Congress since MAP-21 in 2012.

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