Eagle Pass State Loop 480 North Groundbreaking Ceremony Scheduled September 28
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Sixteen years after construction first began on State Loop 480, the Texas Department of Transportation has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited north completion project.
The ceremony will take place Monday, September 28, 2026 at 10 a.m. at the intersection of State Loop 480 and U.S. Highway 57 in Eagle Pass, Texas. The event will be held in the center median near the northern end of the existing roadway.
The announcement represents a significant step forward for a transportation project originally envisioned as a major solution for Eagle Pass, Maverick County and the growing international commercial corridor between the United States and Mexico.
Construction on the southern portion of State Loop 480 began in June 2010. That phase involved building a two-lane roadway extending from Industrial Park Boulevard to U.S. Highway 57.
Approximately 196.7 acres of right-of-way were also acquired for future northern segments. Although the original phase was completed, the northern connection considered essential for redirecting commercial traffic was never constructed.
Local and state officials have continuously advocated for the completion of State Loop 480 and worked extensively in recent years to ensure the project received greater attention and remained a high transportation priority at the state level.
State Loop 480 has been discussed for decades as a critical connector that could reduce congestion and improve access to major international trade corridors.
Conceptual plans released by TxDOT in 2024 outlined a proposed route connecting traffic from U.S. Highways 277 and 57 directly to International Bridge No. 2. The connection would allow tractor-trailers to bypass residential neighborhoods and heavily traveled city streets.
The roadway would also complement an ordinance approved by the Eagle Pass City Council in 2022 restricting commercial vehicles from traveling through the city unless they are making local deliveries.
Once completed, the northern portion of Loop 480 is expected to provide a dedicated route for cross-border freight traffic and reduce the risks associated with heavy commercial vehicles traveling through urban areas. Those risks include traffic crashes, tractor-trailer rollovers, hazardous material spills and damage to local streets.
The project could also improve the movement of goods between Mexico and the United States while preparing the region for continued commercial and industrial growth.
TxDOT identified the completion of Loop 480 as a future construction priority in 2022, with planning involving funding, engineering, environmental reviews and coordination among state and local governments.
The Eagle Pass Metropolitan Planning Organization also maintained its support for the project through Resolution No. MPO 2026-01, which expressed formal regional backing for construction of the roadway.
For Eagle Pass and Maverick County, completing State Loop 480 represents more than building another highway. It could finally provide a safer and more efficient method of moving international commerce without continuing to place the burden of heavy truck traffic on city streets.
After 16 years of waiting, the September 28 groundbreaking ceremony could mark the beginning of the final chapter for one of the region’s longest-awaited transportation projects.
