Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Port Traffic Signage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council backs signage and barrier plan to ease truck congestion at World Trade Bridge; staff to request TxDOT study
Summary
Police and port‑of‑entry advisory committee recommendations to add signage and physical barriers along I‑69 west of I‑35 and at World Trade Bridge ramps were approved. The council authorized staff to seek TxDOT engineering review and agreements for implementation.
LAREDO — The City Council voted Monday to ask staff to request Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) engineering review and agreements to implement signage, bilingual markings and physical barrier changes recommended by Laredo Police Port Police and the port‑of‑entry advisory committee intended to reduce illegal lane changes and unsafe “cut‑ins” near the World Trade Bridge and along I‑69 west of I‑35.
Assistant Chief Ricardo Gonzales explained that existing lane signage is often low to the roadway or worn and that congested commercial vehicle traffic causes some drivers to make unsafe lane changes and improvised exits. The port police and the advisory committee had recommended higher‑visibility, bilingual signs, removal or relocation of worn pavement signs, and physical measures (raised median curbing or barriers) to discourage precipitous exits onto access roads.
Why it matters: the bridge and surrounding national freight routes experience regular periods of heavy commercial traffic; staff said better signage and some physical deterrents would reduce unsafe maneuvers and the enforcement burden. Chief Gonzales told council the port advisory committee had already approved the recommendations; TxDOT will need to study the requested changes because some proposed work would occur in state right‑of‑way.
Council action: the council unanimously approved a motion to support the port advisory recommendations and to authorize staff to request TxDOT study and to negotiate any necessary agreements. Staff said they would include the potential landscaping/vegetation barrier options and will submit the formal requests to TxDOT engineers for feasibility review.
