More than 50 percent of that traffic crosses the border at the Rio Grande Valley and Laredo. that number is expected to increase to almost 75 percent over the next decade. This amendment would give the growing traffic on the highpriority corridor system convenient access to the entire United StatesMexico border. Currently there are 9 existing border crossings in the lower Rio Grande Valley. with a total of 30 lanes. In 1994. they handled approximately 28.3 million crossings. Given the number of existing and planned bridges. the lower Rio Grande Valley is an increasingly significant center for crossborder commerce. Extending corridor 18 to the lower Rio Grande Valley will provide a direct link for the eight States along the 169 corridorwhich accounted for $50.6 billion or 38 percent of the dollar value of United States trade with Mexico and Canada in 1993. It will maximize the use of our border crossings. It will create a firstrate extended route that will distribute border traffic over several entry points. allowing for costefficient crossborder movement of goods. Extending corridor 18 to the lower Rio Grande will create an infrastructure that will enable the United States to maximize economic development through all of the States that I have just mentioned. as well as our ability to move goods and better capitalize on international trade.
Keywords matched
border crossing