Brownsville, Texas – August 10, 2020 – Construction for the South Port Connector Road began today, August 10, 2020, a critical project aimed at improving urban traffic and access to the Port of Brownsville.

The $25.6 million project is made possible by a partnership of the Brownsville Navigation District (BND), Cameron County, the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA), the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RGVMPO) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The port connector is the first phase of CCRMA’s larger East Loop Corridor construction project.

“The Port of Brownsville’s steady growth in cargo movement and overall activity makes the south port connector road critical to the region’s future success in domestic and international trade,” said John Reed, BND Chairman. “The excellent partnership forged with Cameron County, the CCRMA, RGVMPO and TxDOT contributes greatly to the success of this project.”

The 1.9-mile long port connector road will connect Ostos Road inside the port with State Highway 4, providing another entry and exit to and from the port and convenient access to commercial lanes at Veterans International Bridge. It also facilitates the flow of cargo and other goods related to the space industry from the port docks to the neighboring SpaceX facility at Boca Chica.

In April 2019, the South Port Connector Road received environmental clearance from TxDOT, advancing the project to its construction phase. The projected date of completion is late 2021.