Eagle Pass Hosts Meeting with State of Coahuila to Discuss Expansion of International Bridge No. 2
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2022
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council led by Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. hosted a meeting with the State of Coahuila Secretariat of Economic Development Carlos Mario Bres Garza on Monday, March 7, 2022 and business representatives of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila to discuss future economic development projects in the State of Coahuila and in Mexico and the expansion of Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2 by six lanes.
Mayor Salinas stated the City of Eagle Pass is interested and prepared to expand International Bridge No. 2 with six additional lanes, but will have to apply for and receive an amendment to the its Presidential Permit from the federal government.
Salinas added that expanding International Bridge No. 2 by six lanes has an estimated cost of six to eight million dollars at the present time. He noted the City of Eagle Pass is going forward with the process of obtaining an amendment of its Presidential Permit and funding the project.
Secretariat Bres Garza stated they are many current and future economic development projects planned in the State of Coahuila and in Mexico that will require expansion of International Bridge No. 2 in order for the sister cities of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras to benefit from and grow with these projects. Prior to being appointed Secretariat of Economic Development of the State of Coahuila, Bres Garza served as Mayor of the City of Piedras Negras, Coahuila.
Salinas noted that the process of obtaining an amendment to the Presidential Permit of Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2 is estimated to take between three to five years depending on the federal government in Washington, D. C.
Also present at the binational meeting were Eagle Pass Mayor Pro-Tem Yolanda P. Ramon and City Councilwoman Monica J. Cruz, City Manager George Antuna, Eagle Pass International Bridge System General Manager Homero Balderas, Eagle Pass-Maverick County Economic Development Alliance Board President Morris Libson, Jr., and local business representatives from Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras.
Mayor Salinas and Secretariat Bres Garza agreed to continue the discussion and development of a process to expand Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2 by six lanes to accommodate the future economic development projects in the State of Coahuila and in Mexico that will benefit the cities of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras.
