Ports to Plains Alliance Give Information about Proposed New Design For I-27

The future of trade in West Texas is on a schedule to grow with the extension of I-27.

Congressman Jodey Arrington, who represents Lubbock, Big Springs and Abilene along with Congressman Henry Cuellar, who represents Laredo, Mission and a portion of San Antonio introduced a bill that will designate I-27 as a federal highway.

If the proposed extension is approved, trade between the U.S. Mexico and Canada has the potential to grow and flourish.  

Arrington says the project is critical to the state

First, the Ports to Plains Alliance has to get authorization to change the formal designation of the I-27 route where the planned extension is to run which is a key measure that makes a way for federal funding.

Last year state lawmakers approved a study to expand I-27 north into Oklahoma and south to the Texas-Mexico border into Laredo.  

The price tag is approximately 23 billion dollars.