Smoother Commutes Following Major Road Reconstruction

Drivers in the City of Brownsville are experiencing smoother commutes thanks to significant reconstruction efforts on several key thoroughfares over the past year. These improvements are part of a citywide initiative to enhance road conditions and improve traffic flow for residents and visitors alike.

“Within the last year, we repaved Price Road from Paredes to the Expressway and Old Port Isabel Road from Price Road to Coffee Port Road. Those were Mill and Overlay projects that we did in-house. Our in-house crews did those. It was a team effort of all branches of Engineering and Public Works working together to get that done,” said Carlos Lastra, a city engineer for the Engineering and Public Works Department of the City of Brownsville.

One of the major projects EPW assisted in was the reconstruction of Stage Coach Trail on the north side of town. “Reconstruction of Stage Coach Trail from Morrison Road to Alton Gloor, we basically rebuilt that road. We added curb and gutter, added sidewalks, and also a shared-use path,” Lastra explained.

The full street reconstruction of Stage Coach Trail was funded by the Capital Improvements Project, dedicated to long-term investments in the city’s infrastructure. Similarly, Jose Marti Boulevard in the Brownsville Country Club area also recently underwent major reconstruction. “We actually rebuilt the whole road from scratch, added sidewalks as well that it didn’t have at the time and now we do,” Lastra added.

Looking ahead, the next major project EPW will be working on is the long-awaited reconstruction of Old Highway 77. “We are going to reconstruct that road, we are going to urbanize it…we are going to add a sidewalk and shared-use path on one side as well. We are really excited about that project,” Lastra said. The reconstruction of Old Highway 77 is set to begin in September 2024.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to modernize Brownsville’s infrastructure, ensuring safer and more efficient transportation for all.