U.S. 281 upgrades underway between Edinburg, San Manuel

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A multi-million-dollar project is underway to upgrade U.S. 281 in Hidalgo County.

The improvement project will focus on adding new lanes and frontage roads along seven miles between Edinburg and San Manuel.

"We're going to convert from a four-lane divided highway to a full-blown interstate upgrade," said Pete Alvarez, District Engineer with the Texas Department of Transportation.

The $165 million project is part of TxDOT's initiative to upgrade and expand Interstate 69C between Hidalgo and Brooks counties.

"We're going to have main lanes, two lanes in each direction, plus additional frontage roads from FM 490, approximately where the Edinburg airport is to San Manuel," Alvarez continued. "This project will improve safety, mobility, and connectivity — all the initiatives that TxDOT is working to improve the transportation network."

TxDOT estimates the project will take three years to complete.