Stimulus Funds to Alleviate Traffic at South Texas-Mexico Border

MISSION, Texas, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Anzalduas International Bridge,
one of two border crossings in the Mission area, is set to open in October
2009 after several years of planning and development. One of the newest and
largest crossings in the country, Anzalduas will directly connect Mission to
Reynosa,Tamaulipas - a hub for maquiladoras and industrial activity in Mexico.

Hidalgo County officials expect a dramatic increase in traffic flow -
industrial, retail, commercial and tourists - going to and from the border,
and want to ensure those using the span will be able to easily get where
they're going.

"Anything that helps expedite movement from the border to major markets in
regions north will be beneficial," said Pat Townsend, director of the Mission
Economic Development Authority.

The way the area's current highway networks are designed, Townsend is
concerned the route out of the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas is hampered by
bottlenecks. However, using funds from the federal economic stimulus package,
the Texas Department of Transportation and the Hidalgo County Metropolitan
Planning Organization could alleviate the problems.
Mexico plays a critical role in Mission's and the surrounding area's economy
by bringing in sales tax revenue from manufacturing and industrial companies,
retail and commercial development, and by attracting Mexican national tourists
who reportedly spend three times more than the average American shopper.

The Hidalgo County planning organization may spend part of its share of the
stimulus money to remove a bottleneck north of the Anzalduas bridge. The
agency has a $10 million plan for an improvement that would help advance truck
mobility and high-speed merging onto city highways.

When completed, Townsend said, the improvements will reduce the traffic delays
that are a major concern to maquila managers.

Reynosa is one of the most important cities in Mexico when it comes to
importing and exporting goods and vehicle traffic. This has made Mission and
other South Texas border regions an important international gateway to the
United States.

"We're a unique international area linked by culture and economy." Townsend
said. "Communities on both sides of the border have been very cooperative in
helping to make and keep the area economy strong and secure."

Contact:
Daniel Silva
Mission Economic Development Authority
1-800-707-1155
www.missioneda.org

SOURCE Mission Economic Development Authority

Daniel Silva of Mission Economic Development Authority, 1-800-707-1155