May 19, 2013
News
City Preparing For More Commercial Traffic
By KGNS News
Laredo was recently named the spot of a site of excellence for machinery by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
And customs officials say the designation could attract more trade through out ports of entry.
But more trucks mean more traffic and more pressure on our roadways.
And city leaders say they're as prepared as they can be.
the City of Laredo is well known for attracting thousands of commercial traffic.
Customs officials say the rate of trucks using bridges here is growing and hasn't stopped.
But all the trucks cause some headaches with constant slow downs and bumps in the road.
“Rolling sheets is created by heavy loads and having to break and that load has taken a toll on streets.”
City Manager Carlos Villarreal says he knows the challenges that come with a booming city of commercial traffic.
He says the city maintaining the streets the best it can
“Making sure in some areas that we work with concrete instead of asphalt.”
And already talking about creating overpasses on loop twenty at intersections like McPherson International and Clark.
But the only things putting the brakes on progress: money.
“Those projects that i mentioned to you will be a quarter of a billion dollars. $250 million”
Villarreal says the city is as prepared as it can be.
“You'll never be fully ready for that traffic but we are making sure that we plan accordingly.”
Villarreal says major road projects could hit another bump.
He says depending on what happens with the 'fiscal cliff' situation it could mean no more earmarks for key projects across the country and could put projects here even further behind.
