After nearly two decades, Hidalgo County RMA advances plan to close 73 miles of long-delayed trade loop

The Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority (HCRMA) is taking a critical step toward completing its countywide loop by advancing an estimated $5 million engineering contract that would cover roughly 73 miles of roadway and close the final gaps in the system.

Last month, the HCRMA board authorized staff to negotiate a professional service agreement with Consor Engineers to perform environmental and engineering services for sections A West, C, E, and F of the loop — essentially the remaining unengineered eastern and westernmost arcs of the titanic roadway system that promises to circumnavigate the center of Hidalgo County.

“As you know, big decision for the RMA and for the board of directors here,” HCRMA Board Chairman Robert Lozano told bidders at a special meeting in December. “One that we’re not taking lightly. This is a quest for a long-term partnership.”

The HCRMA has been working on the loop for nearly two decades as a way to improve freight movement and regional traffic by linking industrial corridors, international bridges, and major highways across Hidalgo County

It — and the Texas Department of Transportation — have made some strides in completing it, largely in the form of highways that connect around the city of Pharr, home to the nation’s busiest port of entry for produce imports. 

The newly bid parts of the loop would include a leg that stretches out as far east as Mercedes and curves back toward Edinburg.

It also includes the part of the loop that runs west from southern Mission to about Peñitas before running north and making a right angle that brings it to Edinburg.

In short, those legs would make the loop an actual loop rather than the spans of southern Hidalgo County roadway that compose it now.

HCRMA Executive Director Pilar Rodriguez estimates that engineering work will cost about $5 million. 

From past setbacks to a new selection

Lozano said the board had not taken on a project of this scale during his 14-month tenure on the board, but it’s not the first time the organization has bid that work.

Rodriguez remembers that part of the project was first bid in 2007 or 2008.

“Basically, at the time, the board tried to environmentally clear the entire loop, and they couldn’t do it financially,” he said. “It came to a screeching halt. They couldn’t finance it back in 2008 or so. And of course, the contracts all lapsed.”

Newspaper archives show the HCRMA selected another engineering firm to handle all aspects of the loop in 2011.

Regardless, Rodriguez says the HCRMA can now fund the engineering work. 

It opened the project to bidders in May 2025, and six firms applied before the deadline in July. 

A selection committee ranked the bidders, but the board waited until a special-called meeting in December to make its selection after hearing from the three top-ranking firms.

The board ultimately chose Consor, the highest-ranked firm. The company is headquartered in Houston and has offices in at least 25 states across the country, including one in McAllen. It also previously worked on other parts of the Hidalgo County loop.

“We are going to make sure that we deliver to your visions, goals, and mission by implementing technology and innovation every step of the way,” Consor Project Manager Sandeep Patil told the board.

Consor representatives promised to collaborate with the community and partner with stakeholders as it deals with a variety of challenges for the project. 

Those challenges include working around homes and businesses, oil and gas fields, state parks and wildlife refuges, stream crossings, historic sites, irrigation canals, potential archaeological areas, and protected species.

The firm will also conduct traffic forecasting that includes safety and operational analyses, along with a toll revenue study.

Rodriguez anticipates negotiations with Consor to continue this month, with final board approval to follow.