The infrastructure bill that the Senate sent to the House includes funding for a stretch of interstate that would connect 12 installations from Texas to Georgia. The expansion of I-14 is a “forts to ports” project, John Thompson, chairman of the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, said, according to Military.com.

The proposed 1,300-mile route would largely upgrade existing roads to link military communities in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

During Senate debate on the infrastructure bill, all 10 senators from the affected states proposed the amendment, led by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ralph Warnock (D-Ga.).

Cruz said the amendment would “begin the necessary work to upgrade this road system and connect strategic military installations across our states.”

Warnock said it will also “drive economic opportunities to our rural communities.”

House leaders have not finalized a timeline for considering the infrastructure bill.

Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Travis Mueller