LAREDO, TX — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing the US 59 Loop Upgrade project. This proposed project will upgrade a portion of the US 59 Loop (dually designated as Loop 20 and locally known as Bob Bullock Loop), from International Boulevard intersection to the US 59/Loop 20 interchange, to an urban expressway that meets interstate standards.

The entire US 59 Loop and Loop 20 corridor was originally constructed as a new-location roadway through mostly undeveloped rangeland in the 1990s and 2000s to provide an efficient alternative arterial roadway connection between south and north Laredo. In 2014, the Texas Transportation Commission and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) re-designated this segment of Loop 20 as US 59 in preparation for one day being upgraded to I-69W.

Similarly, the segment of US 59, also known as Saunders, extending from Loop 20 to I-35 is now designated as BU-59Z. Additionally, the Texas Transportation Commission, FHWA, and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials determined that the segment of the US 59 Loop from 0.3 miles west of I-35 to the entrance to the World Trade International Bridge IV met Interstate design standards and was designated as a segment of I-69W.

This proposed US 59 Loop project limits extends from International Boulevard to the existing interchange of US 59/SL 20 and BU 59Z, a distance of 7.198 miles.

It is anticipated that this project will use a combination of federal, state, and local funds to implement this work. This project is currently on the Laredo 2015-40 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and the 2021 Unified Transportation Plan, and is listed on the 2021-2024 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program as a funded project.

This proposed project will meet local and regional future travel demand by increasing capacity of the US 59 Loop by upgrading it to an urban expressway that meets the current FHWA and TxDOT design standards for interstates, bridges, and frontage roads. It will also enhance safety by improving access management and reducing conflict points.

This project will be constructed in three construction phases:

• Phase 1 is currently anticipated to let for construction in September 2022. The total estimated construction cost for this phase is currently estimated at approximately $165 million.
• Phase 2 is currently anticipated to let for construction in August 2024. The total estimated construction cost for this phase is currently estimated at approximately $60 million.
• Phase 3 is currently anticipated to let for construction in August 2024. The total estimated construction cost for this phase is currently estimated at approximately $60 million.