City of Eagle Pass hosts International Bridge No. 2 Commercial Lanes Ground Breaking Ceremony 

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

The future of the Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico Port of Entry is extremely bright as the City of Eagle Pass hosted the official ground breaking ceremony for the construction and development of two commercial traffic lanes at the City’s International Bridge No. 2 facility on Monday, December 21, 2015.  The $6.3 Million Project is expected to increase commercial traffic through the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Port of Entry from its current 141,000 commercial in-bound conveyances worth $16 Billion by up to 30% to 40% within the next four years, said David Higgerson, U.S. Customs Border Protection Field Operations Director, Laredo District Office.

The two Commercial Lanes Traffic Project originated in 2008 and has taken eight years to come to fuitition due to the collaboration of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas Department of Transportation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Government Services Administration, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The $6.3 Million Project is funded by a Texas Department of Transportation Cross-Border Infrastructure grant of $5.3 Million and $1 Million from the City of Eagle Pass.  Estimated time of completion is eight months to tweleve months, said Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu.

The purpose of the two commercial traffic lanes project is to facilitate and expedite international trade through the Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Port of Entry as well as accomodate its expected growth in the future.  The expansion project will alleviate the congestion of commercial traffic through this port of entry.

Eagle Pass Mayor Cantu welcomed all the dignataries and guests to the ceremony.  Mayor Cantu stated that the City of Eagle Pass is a progressive port of entry and dedicated to the continued growth and development of U.S.-Mexico international trade.

Texas State Representative Alfonso “Poncho” Nevarez congratulated all the parties involved in developing and funding this important international trade project which will benefit the State of Texas.  Nevarez noted that the U.S.-Mexico border is secure through the hard work and dedication of personnel from the U.S. Border Customs Protection and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who ensure that the goods and services as well as the people who are supposed to come in and out of the U.S.-Mexico border do so in a safe and efficient manner.

Mexican Consulate Gerneral Ismael Naveja Macias stated that what is good for Eagle Pass is also good for Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.  Consul Naveja Macias noted that this project will assist to increase trade between U.S.-Mexico while benefitting the economies of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras.

Texas State Senator Carlos I. Uresti’s representative, Hellen Martinez, read a prepared letter from Senator Uresti congratulating the City of Eagle Pass on this important project and the expansion will benefit tremendously southwest Texas through greater economic development opportunities.

Eagle Pass Cutoms Broker Association Secretary Sonia Shannon stated the construction of the two commercial lanes will expedite commercial truck traffic and international trade through the Eagle Pass-Peidras Negras Port of Entry.

Also attending the ceremony were Brad Skinner, Assistant Director of Trade for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Laredo District; John Brandt, Eagle Pass Port of Entry Director, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Arnulfo Molina, Chaplain for U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Color Guard; Hector Romero Romero, Assistant Mexican Customs Director in Piedras Negras, Coahuila; Alfonso Bres Patino, President of Piedras Negras Customs Brokers Association; Eagle Pass Interim City Manager Hector Chavez; Eagle Pass International Bridge System Chairperson Kimberly Cantu and Vice-Chairperson Lorena Ruiz; former Eagle Pass International Bridge System Chairperson Hector J. Cerna; Eagle Pass International Bridge System General Manager Mario Diaz; Sid Mielke, Project Engineer with Structural Engineering Associates; Eagle Pass Mayor Pro-Tem Rudy Villalpando; Eagle Pass Councilwoman Yolanda P. Ramon; Eagle Pass Police Chief Alberto Guajardo; Eagle Pass Public Works Interim Director Cacho Sandoval; Eagle Pass Parks and Recreation Director Jorge Sanchez; Eagle Pass City Attorney Heriberto Morales of Langley & Banack; Eagle Pass Police Department Lieutenants Aldo Escamilla, Alejandro Guedea, Amy Gonzalez, and Gerardo Fuentes; Maverick County Hospital District Board of Director Ricardo E. Calderon; and over 5o business and civic leaders.