Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 Facade Remodeling Construction Kick-off Held

By: Jose G. Landa
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013

The City of Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 celebrated a facade remodeling construction kick-off ceremony on Monday, April 8, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. to officially begin construction of the bridge’s facade to its original design under a Texas Historical Commission program, announced Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu. Mayor Cantu noted that the International Bridge No. 1 facade will incorporate the original dome-shaped designed of 45 years ago.

The cost of the International Bridge No. 1 facade remodeling construction project is estimated to be $200,000. The construction project got underway April 8th immediately after the ceremony and is expected to take 75 days to complete without affecting daily vehicular traffic.

The original Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 was built in 1927 by Francisco Estrada and was managed by Manuel Olivares. The City of Eagle Pass purchased the International Bridge No. 1 in 1947 from Francisco Estrada for the sum of $320,000 in government bonds. In 1954, International Bridge No. 1 was a victim of the “great flood of 1954” in Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico requiring it be rebuilt. In 1968, International Bridge No. 1 was reconstructed to its current structure by Austin Bridge Company of Dallas and Collins Construction of San Antonio. In 1999, the International Bridge No. 1 officially became a City of Eagle Pass department known as the Eagle Pass International Bridge System.

Joining Eagle Pass Mayor Cantu were Mayor Pro-Tem Asalia Casarez, City Councilman William “Billy” Davis, interim City Manager Gloria Barrientos, Eagle Pass International Bridge System Trustee Kimberly Cantu, Eagle Pass International Bridge System Director Mario Diaz, Eagle Pass Port of Entry Director Cynthia O. Rodriguez and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer John Brandt, Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandra Martinez, and representatives of the construction company hired to do the facade remodeling project.

Mayor Cantu stated that this is an important project for the City of Eagle Pass as International Bridge No. 1 is the gateway to the State of Coahuila and the Republic of Mexico and to hundreds of thousands of vehicles and pedestrians visiting the U.S.-Mexico border through Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila.