The new 1.9 mile-long South Port Connector Road is now open at the Port of Brownsville. The new $25.6-million port connector road improves port access while easing urban traffic in the Brownsville area.

The road project was a collaborative effort between the Brownsville Navigation District, Cameron County, the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Texas Department of Transportation.

At a March 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony, BND Board Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez drove a truck through a ceremonial ribbon. This officially opened the road for both domestic and international trade.

“The Port of Brownsville is committed to investing in infrastructure to meet the growing business needs of our region for today and tomorrow,” said Lopez. “Thousands of workers depend on the first-rate logistics services provided by the port as the leading economic engine of the Rio Grande Valley. I commend our partners involved in the project for contributing greatly to the success of the construction of this road.”

Expanding To Meet Growth

The Port of Brownsville has seen an increase in truck traffic in recent years, registering 438,000 truck movements in 2021. This represents an average of 1,200 truck movements per day.

Funding for the road was procured by the Port of Brownsville, Cameron County, the CCRMA, RGVMPO and TxDOT. Construction of the road began August 2020. Its completion marks the first phase of CCRMA’s larger East Loop Corridor construction project.

The South Port Connector Road is the first entrance/exit on the south side of the Brownsville ship channel. It will directly link Ostos Road inside the port with State Highway 4. It will eventually offer a direct route to nearby commercial traffic lanes at Veterans International Bridge. The new access road also creates a convenient connection to the neighboring SpaceX launch site. It now facilitates the shipping and receiving of critical components for the local space industry.

“The South Port Connector Road is a testament to the valley’s growth and its leading business industry between the Port of Brownsville, the Cameron County International Bridge System, and the space industry. This road will continue to promote the region’s success in travel and trade,” stated Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. “I want to thank all those involved for the completion of this great project that will continue to enhance and promote the quality of life of the residents and visitors to Cameron County.”

“I am glad that the CCRMA was able to partner with TxDOT, the Port of Brownsville and Cameron County to ensure that this project became a reality,” said CCRMA Chairman Frank Parker Jr. “This project is the first segment of the much larger East Loop project and we are glad that this project will improve access to and from the Port of Brownsville.”