When the North American Free Trade Agreement was born, the idea of building a new interstate connecting the United States, Mexico and Canada was born with it.
But getting from a point on the U.S.-Canada border to a point on the U.S.-Mexico border staying on one interstate is more complicated than it sounds.
Several communities would like to be on such a superhighway, knowing they would benefit from a river of trade that is expected to continue to grow in the next century.
Two things should happen this year that will be turning points.
First, money will be allocated for the nation's highway projects, including possible funds for strengthening north-south transportation corridors.
Second, details of the locations of these north-south corridors could be determined, deciding which communities are included and which are left out in the next century's plans for transportation.
October is the deadline for congressional passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), the vehicle for allocating the hundreds of billions of dollars for the nation's surface transportation system.
The plan before the Federal Highway Administration that involves the Coastal Bend proposes a NAFTA corridor that would extend an existing Interstate 69 segment between Port Huron, Mich., and Indianapolis, Ind., making an 1,800-mile highway between Canada and Mexico.
Through ISTEA, the federal government could choose to appropriate at least part of the $5 billion to $6 billion needed to pay for the I-69 extension.
It is this I-69 that could become the NAFTA highway for South Texas.
"If we get the interstate we will be on the map for international trade," said Nueces County Judge Richard Borchard. "If we don't, it will be the exact opposite."
An I-69 plan before the Federal Highway Administration is studying a route for the interstate labeled Corridor 18.
In South Texas, the proposed Corridor 18 would run on U.S. Highway 59 from Houston to Victoria, then on U.S. Highway 77 through Robstown and Kingsville, and finally, dog-legging in Kenedy County onto U.S. Highway 281 headed to McAllen.
Another $2.5 million study by the Federal Highway Administration is under way to further define the costs and benefits of bringing the highway along Corridor 18.
Laredo officials argue that Interstate I-69 should stay on U.S. 59 all the way to Laredo, bypassing a large part of the Coastal Bend altogether. And officials in Harlingen, which could be left out if the corridor goes to McAllen, argue that their city deserves to be included.
The state of Texas has proposed to the federal government all three routes -- ones that end up in Laredo, Harlingen and McAllen.
"That's going to be the big heavy decision," said Rick Maldonado, the Port of Corpus Christi's main representative on the I-69 issue. "Will there only be one leg going from Houston to Mexico or will there be two or will there be three? The state has proposed three, but Congress may say that's not financially possible."
Dick Messbarger, executive director of the Greater Kingsville Economic Development Council, pointed to a study by the I-69 steering committee that already determined that the leg on U.S. 77 has the most technical merit based on its cost and benefits. That's why it is included in the study now before the Federal Highway Commission, he said.
But Messbarger doesn't underestimate the power of Laredo in achieving changes at the congressional level.
"I think at this stage our biggest concern would be that the decision be made for political reasons rather than for technical merit," he said.
Local legislators and transportation authorities are eager to make improvements on roads and infrastructure so that their highways will be cheaper and more attractive for the route.
Borchard said continuing work on the roads near Robstown and improvements to the county airport and the Port of Corpus Christi would help the effort to secure U.S. 77 inclusion on I-69.
Construction of a relief route around Robstown, where a future I-69 would link up with traffic from Corpus Christi, would bring 3.5 miles of U.S. 77 to interstate status, said Sue Salter, executive director of the Robstown Economic Development Commission.
"The road really is Robstown's future," she said. "The Texas Department of Transportation is really putting money into Nueces County. Having the highway meet interstate standards helps with its candidacy for I-69."
For example, NAFTA proponents compete for federal dollars with proponents of interstate improvements in the Pacific Northwest, the East Coast and east-west routes, he said. I-69 proponents could compete with those advocating improvements to the north-south Interstate 35.
While more than one corridor is likely to be funded, some are sure to be left out.
"What we're stressing as an I-69 coalition is that the nation placed a lot of emphasis on making NAFTA happen and what Congress needs to do now is go ahead and fund those corridors" that handle trade between Canada, the United States and Mexico, he said.
"Any proposed I-69 should connect major seaports, such as Houston, Corpus Christi and Brownsville," Maldonado said. "That way, we can maximize the amount of NAFTA trade that runs through the nation."