What's new
A busy bridge on the U.S.-Mexico border is set to undergo a $264 million rehabilitation to streamline the flow of traffic in and out of Brownsville, Texas.
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced Friday that it has awarded a contract of this magnitude for the project to Alabama-based general contractor Brasfield & Gorrie for work on the Brownsville-Gateway Land Port of Entry.
Why it matters
The overhaul of the border crossing — one of the busiest ports of entry between the U.S. and Mexico — is expected to improve border security and immigration enforcement by expanding inspection capabilities and streamlining operations.
The United States is preparing for President-elect Donald Trump to adopt a tough immigration agenda with tougher border measures, raising concerns about mass deportations.
Getty/Chandan Khanna
What you should know
The overhaul, funded by federal infrastructure legislation, includes the use of low-carbon materials and increases efficiency at the key trade and travel hub.
Key improvements include doubling the number of primary vehicle control lanes from five to ten and expanding secondary control rooms with the addition of nine covered lanes, bringing the total to 24. The project also includes the construction of a 48,000-square-foot U.S. Customs and Border Patrol shelter building, according to GSA.
By doubling vehicle inspection lanes and increasing the size of secondary control rooms, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can process larger volumes of vehicles and pedestrians more efficiently. This helps reduce congestion, ensures security checks are thorough but timely, and prevents potential security threats from being missed during long wait times.
The customs structure and the integration of non-contact inspection technologies further support the enforcement of immigration laws. With modernized facilities, CBP has improved resources to conduct inspections, as well as dogs and advanced technology to increase the effectiveness of immigration enforcement while maintaining the flow of commerce.
Located on 9 acres in downtown Brownsville, the port handles approximately 92,000 passenger vehicles and 89,000 pedestrians per month across the Gateway International Bridge, which connects to Matamoros, Mexico. It has been in operation since the 1920s, but has undergone limited renovations since the 1990s.
According to GSA, recent renovations will transform the port into an all-electric facility that includes water-saving measures and energy-efficient features.
According to the administration, the construction materials will help reduce CO2 emissions by up to 300 tons.
This project will use $213.5 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Act and over $50 million from the Inflation Reduction Act, including $48.3 million for low-carbon construction materials such as asphalt, concrete, glass and steel.
What people say
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas said Newsweek: “Now more than ever, it is critical that our nation’s ports of entry are equipped with the resources and infrastructure needed to facilitate trade and strengthen border security.”
“This Brownsville-Gateway Land Port of Entry modernization project will improve facilities and result in more efficient daily operations, including reduced wait times.”
said Acting CBP Deputy Commissioner Pete Flores: “This complete overhaul of the major roads and infrastructure of the CBP Administration Building in Gateway is an important, much-needed project that will provide our employees with the modernized workplace essential to fulfilling our national and economic security mission.”
“This critical infrastructure project will enable CBP to process a much larger volume of passenger vehicle and pedestrian traffic while maintaining the agency's priority border security mission through effective use of CBP officers, dogs and non-invasive inspection system technology.”
Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzalez said: “Thanks to funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the modernization of the Brownsville-Gateway land entry port is fantastic news for South Texas.”
“By improving security, reducing wait times and supporting our growing demand for cross-border traffic, we are ensuring Brownsville remains a competitive gateway for commerce, tourism and travel.”
What's next?
Design work is scheduled to begin in February 2025, with construction beginning in summer 2026 and completion expected at the end of 2029.