The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) released a new case study examining the transformational impact of Interstate 14, a proposed multi-state corridor that would strengthen connections between businesses, military installations, and strategic ports.

Congress designated I-14 as a high-priority corridor in the 2021 surface transportation law. The “Forts to Ports” route would extend from Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, connecting military installations, freight routes, ports and communities that lack a direct east-west interstate connection.

Although I-14 will eventually span 1,300 miles, to date, only 25 miles have been completed. By improving connectivity, this federal investment will be an economic driver for small communities and keep goods and people moving safely and efficiently.

“The proposed Interstate 14 corridor shows the impact and potential of long-term federal transportation funding, and what’s at stake across America. Corridors of this scale take years of planning, coordination and investment, and states cannot make those commitments without long-term federal certainty,” the coalition said. “As Congress considers the next surface transportation reauthorization, policymakers should prioritize funding for projects like the I-14 corridor, which are crucial to improve freight movement and expand access to jobs and services for rural communities.”

The finished structure will provide a wealth of benefits to drivers from Texas to Georgia:

  • Delivering interconnectivity: Talbot County, Georgia has a 22% poverty rate and residents have an average commute of almost 43 minutes. By lowering commute times and increasing access, I-14 will help connect underserved rural communities to growing industries.
  • Reducing congestion: 54% of the main lanes around the proposed I-14 are two-lane roads, and less than one-third have adequate shoulder width. Investment in the corridor will provide the structures needed for smooth, swift transport.
  • Improving safety: The Texas Department of Transportation recorded 30,913 crashes and 441 fatal crashes on the roads that will form the I-14 corridor. Continued investment in interstate-standard improvements can help save lives and address harmful roadway conditions.


The Interstate’s high-priority corridor designation allows federal and state planning to advance, but it does not fund or authorize construction of the full interstate. Congress must enact a long-term surface transportation reauthorization before the current law expires on September 30, 2026, to sustain federal highway investment and give states and stakeholders the certainty to plan, advance, and deliver projects along I‑14 and nationwide.