Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo proposes third international bridge

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo proposed that Maverick County develop and build a third International Bridge between Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico in an interview with a Mexican news media this week.

County Judge Saucedo noted that County Commissioner Roberto Ruiz and him favor Maverick County developing and building a third International Bridge between the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras U.S.-Mexico border. Judge Saucedo pointed out that the process for obtaining the United States Presidential Permit are lengthy, taking up to 10 or more years. Judge Saucedo noted that he had participated in the Committee which developed and built the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge Two. Judge Saucedo noted that Maverick County would be interested in developing and building a third International Bridge north of the City of Eagle Pass.

Currently, there are no formal Maverick County resolutions or County Commissioners Court action calling for the development and construction of a third International Bridge by Maverick County north of the City of Eagle Pass.

Judge Saucedo’s interview with a Mexican news media calling for a third International Bridge has spurred much discussion and debate in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.

Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mayor Fernando Puron Johnston welcomed the suggestion to build a third International Bridge, but noted the contradictory statements made by the United States government authorities having issued a press statement warning U. S. citizens not to travel into Mexico through Piedras Negras, Coahuila due to security issues. Piedras Negras Mayor Puron Johnston also noted that the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge Two still has capacity to handle larger flows of traffic if Eagle Pass and the United States would open more customs inspection lanes and officers and constructed two additional commercial trade lanes originally planned. Mayor Johnston Puron also noted that the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge One could handle increased traffic if it were opened 24 hours instead of its part-time schedule. Mayor Johnston Puron pointed out that both City of Eagle Pass international bridges have not reached their full, peak capacity yet.

Former Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mayor and Mexican Customs Broker Ernesto Vela del Campo opined that the City of Eagle Pass needs to construct and open the two commercial lanes which were originally planned when the City’s Second International Bridge was designed and opened. These commercial lanes would increase international trade between the United States and Mexico and process traffic quicker and faster, benefitting both Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras businesses and economies.

Another Piedras Negras, Coahuila former official noted that there is currently a program by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection to increase the number of customs inspectors at U.S.-Mexico international bridges if the municipalities or entities owning the bridges would agree to pay for the additional labor costs of the American customs inspectors. This official opined that the City of Eagle Pass should pay to add more American customs inspectors at both City-owned International Bridges to decrease the waiting and crossing times while increasing international trade and traffic benefitting the local economy.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu has previously stated that the City of Eagle Pass is constructing two commercial lanes to the Second International Bridge in the immediate future to handle the increased traffic and trade and the City is studying the cost of adding more American customs officers at its two bridges. Mayor Cantu noted that the two City of Eagle Pass International Bridges have not reached their potential maximum capacities and that the City is working in accomplishing maximum capacity use.

The third International Bridge proposal is now in Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo and County Commissioners Court table for consideration and any possible action.