The City of Rio Grande City together with the Texas Department of Transportation held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 8 at 9 am to mark the completion of the New FM 755 Re-Alignment Project.
“Transportation is critical to our economic strength and vitality,” said Mayor Joel Villarreal. “The FM 755 Re-Alignment Project opens access, mobility, progress and opportunity for Rio Grande City.”
The federally funded project, which began construction in January of 2015, cost approximately $11 million dollars and included the re-alignment of approximately 2.5 miles of roadway. The highway is 84 feet wide where there is a continuous left turn lane and 68 feet wide the rest of the way up to FM 755. A 1500-foot bridge spanning the Arroyo Los Olmos includes four 12-foot main lanes (two lanes in each direction) with two 10-foot shoulders.
“The infrastructure and mobility that Laredo and other parts of the state and country have in place is also needed in Starr County and Rio Grande City and this is one of the first projects that will help us get there,” said Representative Ryan Guillen, State Representative House District 31.
The FM 755 Re-Alignment Project was made possible through the partnerships and
collaborations between the Texas Department of Transportation, the County of Starr, the City of Rio Grande City and private landowners.
“Thank you to all the partners for helping make this project a 2.5 mile lifeline that will serve to reduce congestion, provide economic development opportunities, increase emergency response time and establish a thriving international trade corridor,” said Judge Eloy Vera, Starr County.
“As we move forward, we do not see this as a celebration to end this project, but, as a
beginning of a new and safer route with new opportunities for economic development” said Hector Gonzalez, TXDoT Deputy District Engineer.
Representatives of the contractor, Texas SAI, Inc., where present. Vice-President Bobby Bullock and Regional Manager Anthony Martin gave remarks at the event.
For more information about Rio Grande City, visit www.cityofrgc.com or visit the City Facebook page.
