County Judge David Saucedo presented the resolution and opened the item for discussion. 

   Pct. 4 Commissioner Roberto Ruiz proceeded to explain that he has been in contact with newly elected Senator Peter Flores and he has stated that he will assist the County to try to get the ball moving forward and push for the completion of Loop 480.

   The County and City have been seeking for the State to finish Loop 480 for more than 8 years. All attempts have fallen on deaf ears. 

   Loop 480 was intended to assure that commercial traffic traveling in and out of Mexico would not have to go directly through the middle of town. Without the last phase in place, loop 480 does not fulfill its intended purpose. 

   This issue is of great concern to local public officials as on a yearly basis commercial traffic in our area continues to grow. 

   One perfect example is an increase in wind propellers being hauled through our area. Many of us have seen them drive down U.S. N. 277 Highway and have great difficulty turning onto N. Veterans Blvd, stopping all traffic while they maneuver their way to get to highway 57. 

   If phase 3 of loop 480 was in place we would not have this problem.   

   Commissioners Court approved the item and will continue pushing for the completion of phase 3 of loop 480.  

    TxDOT inaugurated the First Phase of Loop 480 a 5.6 mile stretch of highway that cost approximately $26,000,000 on December 22, 2010.  

 Loop 480 was originally planned to divert commercial and hazardous freight traffic from traversing through the middle of the City when attempting to cross in and out of Mexico. The County believes that without the completion of the final phase, loop 480 is not serving it’s full intended purpose. 

  Phase one and two of the loop were built in 2010 and 2011 connecting the Camino Real International Bridge II to El Indio highway and U.S. Highway 277. 

   Phase Three which has not been completed is expected to connect Highway 57 to U.S. Highway 277 North (Del Rio) near the Radar Base area. This would divert commercial traffic directly to the other phases of the outer loop and keep those vehicles away from the county and city areas as first intended.