SAN BENITO — The second phase of the South Parallel Corridor is proceeding with the county working on land acquisition along the route, officials said this past week.
The $8.5 million project will cover 5.2 miles and will link FM 509 and FM 1577 on the southeastern edge of San Benito. The first phase, completed in May 2016, is a 2.11-mile stretch from Rangerville Road to FM 509.
Phase III will take the corridor to I-69E/U.S. 77 near Brownsville.
“We have started doing the right-of-way acquisition,” Cameron County Engineer Paolino Vega told the board of the Harlingen-San Benito Metropolitan Planning Organization this past week.
The new highway tracks south of the interstate and will primarily cut through agricultural land which is largely undeveloped. Project backers say they hope the corridor will help ease traffic congestion in Harlingen and San Benito, provide an alternate route in case of hurricane evacuation and also spur economic development.
The schedule now calls for construction bids to be let in January 2019.
TxDOT Projects Update
FM 106 roadway reconstruction
Location: From FM 1847 to FM 510
Cost: $15.6 million
Project Length: 11.4 miles
Contractor: Texas SAI Inc.
Work started: November 2015
Completion date: December 2017
Work finished: 75 percent
The project consists of a major overhaul of the roadway and includes several wildlife underpasses and adjacent fencing.
BSIF at Los Indios
Location: Los Indios Free Trade International Bridge
Cost: $6.9 million
Project Length: .001 miles
Contractor: Foremost Paving Inc.
Work started: February 2015
Completion date: March 2018
Work finished: 78 percent
The new border safety inspection facility will inspect trucks from Mexico entering the United States. Work on the facility has been suspended since September while TxDOT awaits a land donation from Cameron County.
U.S. 281 roadway rehabilitation
and widening
Location: From FM 509 to .05 miles west of FM 1479
Cost: $3.9 million
Project Length: 1.65 miles
Contractor: Foremost Paving Inc.
Work started: February 2017
Work finished: 30 percent
Bridge rehabilitation Rio Hondo lift bridge
Location: Rio Hondo
Cost: $12.4 million
Project length: 0.117 miles
Contractor: PCL Civil Contractors Inc.
Work started: Summer 2016
Completion date: February 2018
Work finished: 91 percent
The project consists of a complete overhaul of the mechanical lift bridge over the Arroyo Colorado. Traffic should begin crossing in late April.
State Highway 107
Location: Combes
Cost: $3.7 million
Project length: 0.465 miles
Contractor: Foremost Paving Inc.
Work started: August 2017
Completion date: October 2018
Work finished: 18 percent
South Parallel Corridor
Land acquisition is continuing for new roadway connecting South Parallel Corridor from FM 509 to FM 1577. Estimated cost is $8.4 million. Tentative construction contract letting date is January 2019.
