(AUSTIN)—The Texas Transportation Commission has approved a $1,695,000 low interest loan from the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) to Starr County for the restoration of the Roma-Ciudad Miguel Aleman International Bridge, Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, announced Friday.

“I am delighted by the Senate Committee on Finance’s continuing support for the State Infrastructure Bank,” the senator said. “This historical treasure in Senate District 21 is a nearly century-old symbol of bi-national unity that has enriched communities on both sides of the border.”

Constructed in 1928, this suspension bridge spanning the Rio Grande facilitated trade and cross-border connectivity between the cities of Roma and Ciudad Miguel Aleman before being decommissioned in 1979, after which it fell into disrepair. Since 1984 it has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The SIB is a revolving low-interest loan fund administered by the Texas Department of Transportation, which leverages federal and state funding to provide critical financing for transportation infrastructure. This financing will support critical repairs, ensuring the bridge's structural integrity and safeguarding its future.

“As a testament to the bridge’s cross-border symbolic significance, residents and local leaders on both sides of the Rio Grande have fought for years to preserve this historic landmark and restore it to its former glory,” Senator Zaffirini said. “I am so grateful for their efforts in safeguarding this symbol of our shared aspirations.”

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