Quite some time ago I wrote a post about the goal of corporate America to connect the entire length of the United States to Canada and Mexico. This trans-American highway will – to the detriment of American workers – ensure that jobs will continue to move even more quickly out of the United States.
The United States is a partner in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). But I doubt you will see many American companies packing up and relocating to Canada or opening plant locations in Canada.
The lofty moniker given to these projects is “Corridors of the Future” – a pseudonym for even further destruction of the American workplace and its workforce. Under the guise of using “truck-only lanes” (TOLs), one of the corridors will stretch almost 800 miles from Columbus, Ohio, to Kansas City, Missouri. The proposed I-70 TOLs Corridor will increase the mobility of people and freight.
Here is the description in reference to the Kansas City, Missouri location.
Kansas City, Mo.:
Geographically located in the center of the United States, Kansas City,
Missouri is located at the crossroads of three of the nation’s major interstates, I-29, I-
35, and I-70. Using this strategic location to its advantage, Kansas City is hard at work
to become the hub of an expanded international trade corridor between the United
States, Mexico, and Canada. This city has been aggressively pursuing the North American
International Trade Corridor to solidify its role as a transportation logistics and distribution
hub for the country, and I-70 is one of the integral spokes in the North American Continent
Trade Corridor.
Make no mistake, these “Corridors of the Future” are highways to outsourcing jobs and relocating companies to poorer nations which will be exploited to the hilt by American corporations. All of this is being done while Americans are suffering through some of the worst economic times in decades.
The so-called “Fort to Port” is a cog in the process. It is now under construction and will connect the Port of Toledo to Fort Wayne with access to I-469. With access to I-469 and I-69, the interstate will provide a rapid route to the I-70 Corridor of the Future with its TOLs.
Photo Credit: INDOT – Fort to Port corridor
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The I-69 project from Indianapolis to Evansville is another portion of corporate America’s continuing efforts to outsource. Although delayed for many years, it now appears to be headed for initiation. With a map of Indiana criss-crossed with interstates and TOLs, we will become the “Crossroads of America” for outsourcing.
The planned expansion of NAFTA corridor I-69 to the southwest is expected to increase the volume of sensitive freight traffic on I-70 as a major connection to this new north-south route. To add insult to injury, the highways in Indiana are being funded primarily with funds from Major Moves – money from leasing the toll road which is now being used to export jobs and corporations out of Indiana.
Another big thank you to Mitch Daniels for all his efforts.
BERRY STREET BEACON 
The Trans-Texas Corridor is nothing more than urban legend. I cannot believe that *you* believe otherwise.
Milt W:
Urban legend? Where did you get your information?
Apparently, the Texas DOT doesn’t see it that way:
http://www.txdot.gov/services/texas_turnpike_authority/ttc_impact.htm
Click to access i35_diversion_ttc.pdf
You can dismiss it all you want, but the corporations are planning on running a route from Canada to Mexico. NAFTA and DR-CAFTA will continue to be two of the worst agreements ever entered into in reference to the American worker.
Charlotte – Milt W has a point – the
Trans-Texas Coridor is still a “dream” – nothing has been approved and no imediate plans in progress. Besides, Texas DOE says, “it’s a 50 year project”. I don’t believe we will see, in our lifetime, dedicated truck-only highways in the US of A. More likely, we will have more truck-trains – which are much more economical to operate.