Fourteen years and $38 million later, the Texas Department of Transportation completed a project to expand two interstates in the Valley.

More than five miles were added to I-69E in the Willacy and Kennedy county line.

In Cameron County, more than two miles were added to the I-169.

The expansions were paid for with federal, state and local funds. A spokesperson with TXDoT said the improvements were necessary.

“The goal here is to have that connectivity in these very rural parts of our state to be able to connect the Rio Grande Valley all the way through the state of Texas,” TXDoT engineer Pedro Alvarez said.

TXDoT crews are now focusing on connecting Interstate 69 to Texarkana. That project is expected to be completed in 2029.