CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — All of that growth that the city is seeing on the southside is causing some problems for drivers who travel down the crosstown extension to get to the far southside. It’s especially bad heading southbound to the Staples intersection.
During peak driving times you can find hundreds of cars backed up the intersection at Staples which is also known as FM 2444.
However, there’s good news on the way for drivers as the City Councilman Gil Hernandez says TxDOT is working to widen the section of roadway along with Rodd Field.
"TxDOT’s plan is to make those two lane highways to four lanes with a median in between all the way to 2444," Hernandez said.
He said State Highway 286 and Rodd Field will eventually connect to the Regional Parkway which is a huge project the state is also working on.
Hernandez showed 3NEWS a map of the parkway which will run from The Island to SH 286.
"You can see right here you can see how it connects to The Island here on Park Road 22 comes across the intercoastal waterway, here to the King Ranch, it will connect to Rodd Field and then goes all the way out to 286," he said.
State Rep. Todd Hunter said an environmental study is being done right now on the Regional Parkway.
He said the route has not been finalized and funding for its construction is a few years away.
"We really have this next legislature and the following to look at funding cause part of the study will tell us what the cost projection will be," Hunter said.
The latest cost projections show that this project is going to end up being somewhere close to $400 million.