Stretch of road in McAllen, Pharr ranks 41st most congested in Texas

We did it.

The Rio Grande Valley has cracked the top 50 in a list that ranks the most congested roadways in Texas, likely making tens of thousands of motorists with road rage and exhausted middle fingers in the region feel some semblance of vindication.

A segment of I-2 in the Pharr and McAllen area — between U.S. Highway 281 (I-69C) and 10th Street (State Highway 336) — was ranked 41st on the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Top 100 Congested Roadways in Texas report for 2023, the Texas Department of Transportation said in a news release Tuesday.

The congestion led to 296,919 hours of traffic delays and 301,156 gallons of wasted fuel, not to mention $28,096,361 in congestion costs in 2023, the report shows.

This particular stretch of roadway in the Valley tops congestion in areas including Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso. Houston’s West Loop Freeway and Interstate Highway 610 ranked at the top of the list, with streets in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Austin coming in at second and third, respectively.

But although the rankings can be viewed with dubious distinction, TTI and TxDOT say there is reason for relief.

In the report, the TTI analyzed the amount of traffic congestion throughout the state and found that while there are many traffic projects across Texas, the improvements have actually helped reduce traffic delays and ease commutes by 7%.

In fact, according to Ray Pedraza, TxDOT spokesperson, the completed construction on the I-2 and I-69C Pharr Interchange project’s main lanes is helping alleviate congestion for I-2.

A worker cuts through steel using a blow torch as he demolished a piece of the north bound I-2 / I-69C Interchange to make way for new north bound lines on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Pharr. (Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com)

Not only have the infrastructure improvements decreased traffic delays it has also helped commuters save about “$915 million in time and fuel costs,” according to the report.

“We can see that our projects are having a significant impact on our roadways, helping improve efficiency and connectivity across the state,” said Marc Williams, TxDOT Executive Director in a news release. “As our population and economy continue to grow, there’s a considerable need for more projects, and this report helps guide our work to areas that need it most.”

Construction on the interchange project began in August 2020 and is not due for completion until the end of the year.

“The main lanes are nearing completion, pending final overlay and striping in some areas,” Pedraza said via text message Wednesday. “The timeline for completion is by the end of the calendar year but likely sooner.

“Paving work will then begin on the frontage roads and intersections. The paving work will be predominantly done in the evening and overnight hours.”

Monitor staff writer Michael Rodriguez contributed to this report.

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