Cuatro Vientos Interchange Officially Open for Travel
Written by admin, Oct 2, 2013, Comments Off
Courtesy Raul Leal,
LAREDO, TX – Yesterday Texas Department of Transportation officials joined State Senator Judith Zaffirini and guests for a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the official completion of the Cuatro Vientos Interchange construction project at the intersection of State Loop 20 and State Highway 359. This project was made possible by state, federal and local government collaboration and State of Texas Proposition 14 funds.
“There is no doubt that the Cuatro Vientos Interchange, seen before us, is of great mobility benefit to the citizens of Laredo. It improves access for and to the surrounding area, and improves traffic flow and circulation by enhancing connections to existing streets and roads,” said Melisa D. Montemayor, TxDOT Laredo District.
The Cuatro Vientos Interchange Project (Phase II) was built partially by Ballenger Construction and then completed by Zumwalt Construction. The interchange at Loop 20 and State Highway 359 consists of a bridge with connecting ramps to Loop 20 and SH 359, and bridge overpass structures that access roads parallel to the Cuatro Vientos Road. This project, totaling 1.231 miles in length with limits from 0.4 miles south of SH 359/Loop 20 intersection to 0.9 miles north of SH 359/Loop 20, was constructed at a cost of $ 18 million.
This interchange project compliments the seven-mile Cuatro Vientos Road (Loop 20 Extension) (PHASE I) project completed in 2011, of which, both projects have local and statewide significance, for the citizens of Laredo and Webb County, as well as for travelers who drive through Laredo to their distant destinations.
Currently under construction is a third phase of the Cuatro Vientos Project to include the Cuatro Vientos Road southern end project from Cielito Lindo to Magana-Hein Rd. from a two to four-lane roadway at a cost of $10.5 million, and a City of Laredo let project this August 2013 with funding from TxDOT to construct city street arterial tie-ins to Cuatro Vientos Road at Avenida Los Presidentes, Lomas Del Sur Boulevard and Cielito Lindo Avenue in south Laredo. The latter project will begin construction this November.
The entire Cuatro Vientos project and interchange represents a significant investment of U. S. economic stimulus funds, Texas mobility Proposition 14 funds, federal Coordinated Border Infrastructure funds allocated to Webb County and federal economic stimulus funds allocated to the Laredo Metropolitan Planning Organization.
