Eagle Pass Seeks Amendment to Expand Camino Real Bridge to 12 Lanes with U. S. Department of State
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2023
The City of Eagle Pass International Bridge System is applying for an amendment to its United States Presidential Permit with the U. S. Department of State to allow it to expand its six lane Camino Real Bridge permit to 12 lanes in order to accommodate the commercial and vehicular traffic anticipated with the growth of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement at a meeting scheduled on Friday, July 21, 2023 in Washington, D.C., announced Homero Balderas, General Manager of the Eagle Pass International Bridge System.
City of Eagle Pass representatives will travel to Washington, D. C. to attend a key meeting of the U. S. Department of State Binational and Border Crossings Group to pitch for the approval of the amendment to the City’s bridge permit up to 12 lanes. Eagle Pass Interim City Manager Ivan Morua and City Planner Placido Madera will attend the meeting and make the presentation in Washington, D. C.
The City of Eagle Pass is working with the City of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico and the State of Coahuila in expanding the Camino Real Bridge up to 12 lanes to accommodate the growth being experienced by the Port of Eagle Pass handling of both commercial and vehicular traffic.
The City of Piedras Negras and the State of Coahuila are simultaneously working with the Mexican federal government in obtaining approval of the expansion of the Camino Real Bridge, known as Coahuila 2000 Bridge in Mexico, to 12 lanes. Demolition of properties in Piedras Negras, Coahuila has already commenced to accommodate construction of the necessary roads and Mexican Customs facility at the bridge site.
The Port of Eagle Pass handled a total of $34.02 Billion in international export and imports during 2022 between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This international trade is forecasted to grow up to $750 Billion by 2050 due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.
Currently, the City of Eagle Pass is constructing a $3.6 Million new Eagle Pass Bridge System Administration Building at the Camino Real Bridge site.
Preliminary reports for projected costs of construction and expansion of the Camino Real Bridge to 12 lanes is approximately $15-$20 Million.
Also attending the July 20, 2023 U. S. Department of State meeting are the corporate officers and shareholders of Puerto Verde Holdings, LLC to present their bid to develop a private third international commercial traffic bridge north of the City of Eagle Pass, endorsed by Maverick County as the lead sponsor of this public-private partnership.
