Benavidez provides update on eagerly awaited State Loop 195 project

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas — Construction is officially underway on the long-awaited State Loop 195 project in Starr County, a critical infrastructure development that officials say will serve as a primary catalyst for future commercial, industrial, and residential growth across the region.

Speaking on the latest RGG Conversación podcast, Rose Benavidez, president and CEO of the Starr County Industrial Foundation (SCIF), confirmed that heavy machinery is moving and structural work has begun on the multi-phase transportation corridor.

The initial construction segment spans from Farm-to-Market Road 755 to FM 3167, covering more than 14 miles of new roadway designed to bypass congested municipal centers and create a modern bypass network.

“It is under construction,” Benavidez said. “The last time you and I spoke about that, we were breaking ground. It's already the first segment, which covers from Farm Road 755 to Farm Road 3167, and is well underway. Several bridges have been built. The right of way has obviously been acquired quite some time ago, so they’re going through the process. It’s exciting for us to actually see the construction.”

Benavidez noted that the project was decades in the planning stages before securing full funding state allocation in a single tranche from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Once complete, State Loop 195 will provide a crucial relief route parallel to U.S. Highway 83, enhancing safety, expediting freight transport, and serving as an essential evacuation route during regional emergencies.

Catalyst for Master-Planned Development

The physical realization of State Loop 195 is already influencing private investment decisions across Starr County. Among the most prominent is Los Olmos Creek Village, a newly announced 167-acre master-planned development located along the new loop’s footprint.

The multi-million-dollar project represents one of the largest private master-planned investments in the county's history. Plans call for over 300 residential lots alongside designated commercial, retail, and light industrial space.

“This is the first project that is actually underway with the new route that Loop 195 is going to take shape here in Starr County,” Benavidez explained. “Master-planned projects have not been very prevalent, but what we have had is intentional development. At 167 acres, they’ve got a lot of room to make those decisions without the fear of shortchanging themselves on real estate.”

Benavidez highlighted that local investors are leading the venture, reflecting strong internal confidence in the area’s economic trajectory. The Industrial Foundation assisted the developers with preliminary market research and site planning strategies.

Cross-Border Logistics and Freight Connectivity

The construction of State Loop 195 is directly tied to Starr County’s broader trade and transportation grid. The loop connects with the FM 755 spur corridor originating from the Rio Grande City International Bridge, providing a direct route for commercial trucks to move north and bypass downtown traffic bottlenecks.

Local trade planners envision eventual integration between Loop 195 and the proposed Sullivan City Loop, creating a seamless regional corridor linking Starr County directly to major freight networks across the Rio Grande Valley and Webb County.

Concurrently, international freight traffic continues to surge at the Roma Port of Entry. To accommodate increasing cross-border logistics, local leaders are progressing on Las Americas Roma Logistics and Industrial Park. 2.5 acres to 12 acres, for a total of ..., a targeted industrial development in Roma designed to capture expanding trade flows and complement highway improvements on the Mexican side, including updates to Highway 54 toward Monterrey.

“Most of the products that are being crossed here in our border—as they are in all ports—we're the port of origin, but we're hardly ever the final destination,” Benavidez noted. “Finding ways to shave off time is really how transporters measure value. Capitalizing on the fact that more traffic comes this way creates an area where it helps the county develop on the industrial side.”

Energy Sector and Industrial Expansion

Beyond transportation, Starr County continues to solidify its role as an energy hub, encompassing both traditional oil and natural gas infrastructure and utility-scale renewable energy assets.

Benavidez revealed that Starr County has surpassed $2 billion in renewable energy investments. A recently closed energy project spans nearly 100,000 acres across multiple phases, while a major solar construction project recently held a regional job fair, hiring several hundred workers for specialized positions paying between $20 and $40 per hour.

These generation facilities feed power into the ERCOT grid, helping support state energy reliability while establishing local storage capacity through new battery storage facilities.

“Historically, what we’ve understood is that there is room in this world where both renewable energy and our regular oil and gas components can coexist,” Benavidez said. “In this county, we have found a balance that allows both to continue to prosper.”

Workforce Alignment at South Texas College

To support expanding industrial, trade, and commercial sectors, the Starr County Industrial Foundation works closely with South Texas College (STC), where Benavidez also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees.

STC is tailoring its vocational programs to match emerging industry needs, expanding instruction in welding, electrical, HVAC, and healthcare, while introducing advanced technical curricula tailored to aerospace manufacturing in neighboring Cameron County.

Additionally, STC has garnered national attention for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) competencies across its curriculum, ensuring students gain practical experience with modern technological tools.

“What we’re doing with South Texas College at this moment is continuing to align training with practical job opportunities,” Benavidez emphasized. “We want to make sure individuals going through our college are not just getting certified for the sake of walking across that stage, but actually have meaningful job offers before they graduate.”

Key Takeaways from the Podcast

More About State Loop 195

State Loop 195

Key project details:

• The route length is 17.24 miles.
• The path serves as a US 83 relief route, stretching from FM 755 in Rio Grande City to the intersection of US 83 and Loma Blanca Road in Roma.
• The design is a four-lane divided highway with two travel lanes in each direction, shoulders, a grassy median, and multiple bridges and crossovers.

Phase construction:

1. Phase 1 connects FM 755 to FM 3167 in Rio Grande City. They broke ground for this in 2025.
2. Phase 2 connects FM 3167 to FM 649 near El Sauz.
3. Phase 3 connects FM 649 to the US 83/Loma Blanca Road intersection.

State Loop 195 is currently scheduled for full project completion by 2030, giving drivers a nonstop bypass across Starr County within the next 4 to 5 years. 

The structural and bidding timeline for each of the three construction phases breaks down as follows:

1. Phase 1: FM 755 to FM 3167. Current status: 50% complete as of late 2026. Progress update: Contractors have completed a significant portion of the earthwork and embankment. Work is heavily focused on building six bridge structures, including the massive Los Olmos Bridge, as well as installing drainage culverts. Recent changes: Permanent closures and detours went into effect at the Fairgrounds Road intersection to build new T-intersections with the Loop.
2. Phase 2: FM 3167 to FM 649. Current status: Finalizing pre-construction planning. Bidding timeline: Slated to go out for construction bids in late 2026 with active physical construction expected to follow shortly thereafter.
3. Phase 3: FM 649 to US 83/Loma Blanca Road. Current status: Long-term planning. Bidding timeline: Tentatively scheduled to go out for construction bids in February 2028.