Mexico Begins Construction On New International Bridge

By Mónica Ortiz Uribe
January 13, 2014
The
Mónica Ortiz Uribe
The Bridge of the Americas is one of the ports of entry supporting commercial and non-commercial traffic between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

The so-called 'bridge to nowhere' is finally going somewhere. After a two-year delay, Mexico has begun construction on its half of a new border crossing outside El Paso, Texas. When complete,  U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it will be one of the largest ports of entry in the U.S.

The Tornillo-Guadalupe International Bridge, 30 miles outside El Paso, is mostly complete on the U.S side of the border. Construction on the Mexican side only began in December. Mexican authorities blame the delay on funding shortfalls and the change of administration after the 2012 national election. Mexico expects its work to be complete by the end of the year.

On the U.S. side, the new port of entry is built on 117 acres of land and features a six-lane bridge for both commercial and non-commercial traffic. The total cost is about $133 million. The new crossing will replace an outdated bridge built in the 1920s.