Laredo engineers warn Union Pacific review could delay Calton Road grade separation until 2027
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Summary
City engineers and consultant Arcadis told the MPO Policy Committee that Union Pacific’s permitting and resubmittal process can add up to a year of review, potentially delaying Calton Road grade‑separation construction until 2027; Fletcher Lane realignment was reported awarded at $4.4M with six‑month construction once started.
City engineers and project consultants told the Laredo MPO Policy Committee on Feb. 18 that railroad approval processes remain the principal schedule risk for the Calton Road grade‑separation project.
"The survey was completed, and it was reviewed, and the plan was developed based on this survey," Arcadis project manager Usama Shehawi said, describing addendum 12 that added a 1,000‑foot railroad survey to meet BNSF vertical‑clearance requirements. He described the bridge as a multi‑span steel‑girder structure about 866 feet long and said roadway plans are 100% complete and have cleared VPLR review.
However, Shehawi warned the Union Pacific review and the need to resubmit final permits could take long enough to push letting and construction into 2027. "We are expecting ... we are not going to get the approval until the end of the year," he said, adding the project would not start construction until final railroad approval and DOT bridge‑division concurrence are complete.
Committee members pressed whether the city could revert to older approved plans to avoid re‑review or pursue legislative changes to rail review processes. TxDOT staff responded that the railroad permit timeline effectively restarts review with a new team and that plans developed under older specifications must be updated to current TxDOT design standards before construction can proceed.
Santos, the city engineer, reported progress on other items: utilities for the Charles River Road (SH84) relocation have been relocated and paperwork is being processed, and the Fletcher Lane (Las Cruces) realignment project has been awarded to the lowest bidder (Ring Contractors). Santos said the Fletcher Lane project is estimated at about $4,400,000 with an estimated six months of construction once it begins.
Separately, members showed video and discussed truck queuing at the Charlie 29 checkpoint on I‑35; MPO and RMA staff said they are meeting with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to explore interim detours and separate commercial lanes as short‑term relief while longer main‑lane realignment is designed.
Officials urged a coordinated, multi‑agency approach — including possible legislative advocacy — to speed railroad reviews and reduce long schedule uncertainty for corridor projects.
