Big Spring relief route gets $63.7M

September 30, 2011

The Big Spring truck reliever route is another step closer to reality as the Texas Transportation Commission on Thursday approved $63.7 million for the long-anticipated project.

The funds were a portion of the $230 million approved for projects on the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, which will run from Mexico north to Canada. A major portion of the route utilizes U.S. Highway 87. Locally, the corridor would bypass Big Spring to the west near the McMahon-Wrinkle Airpark. The bypass has created controversy because some local businesses owners believe it will take business away from Big Spring. Others note the corridor will route heavy truck traffic away from the central portion of the city.

The relief route around Big Spring and other Ports-to-Plains projects were among $1.4 billion of projects funded statewide by Proposition 12 bonds. Construction on most projects would begin next summer.

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