McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — The Gateway International Bridge is getting a quarter of a million dollar renovation to speed traffic coming to and from Brownsville, Texas.
The General Services Administration (GSA) announced Friday that the $264 million contract was awarded to the Alabama-based Brasfield & Gorrie general contractors.
Renovations include doubling the number of primary vehicle inspection lanes to 10, and adding nine more canopied secondary inspection spaces bringing the total to 24, as well as a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection administration building, according to the GSA.
The Gateway International Bridge connecting Matamoros, Mexico, to Brownsville, Texas, will undergo a renovation project expected to be completed in late 2029. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report File Photo)
“This complete overhaul of the primary lanes and CBP administrative building infrastructure at Gateway is a vital, much needed project that will provide our employees with the updated workspace essential to fulfilling our national and economic security mission,” GSA Acting Deputy Commissioner Pete Flores said. “This critical infrastructure project will enable CBP to be able to process a much larger volume of passenger vehicle and pedestrian traffic while still upholding the agency’s priority border security mission through an effective deployment of CBP officers, canines and non-intrusive inspection system technology.”
About 92,000 passenger vehicles and 89,000 pedestrians use the Gateway International Bridge every month to cross to and from Matamoros, Mexico, GSA says.
The bridge also is a location on the Southwest border where CBP conducts asylum interviews with migrants who schedule via the CBP One app.
The bridge was built in the 1920s and has had limited renovations since the 1990s.
The new renovations include:
Demolition of the current 22,000 square-foot administration building, which is to be replaced by a modernized and new 48,000 square-foot administration facility.
A new 9,000 square-foot outbound inspection area
New parking lots for staff and visitors
The project design is to begin in February and construction is to begin in summer 2026. The project is to be completed in late 2029.
The new renovations will result in an all-electric port and feature water-saving features and energy efficiency, GSA says.
“These strategic upgrades are a triple win: generating high-quality jobs that fortify our economy and national security, reducing taxpayer expenses through energy efficiency, and paving the way for a more resilient and thriving future for our communities,” GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said in a statement.
The administration says the materials used in construction will reduce carbon emissions by up to 300 metric tons.
Local and Texas leaders are praising the project.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that our nation’s ports of entry are equipped with the resources and infrastructure needed to facilitate trade and strengthen border security,” said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. “This modernization project for the Brownsville-Gateway Land Port of Entry will improve facilities and lead to more efficient daily operations, including shortening wait times.”
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, said the modernization of the port of entry is “fantastic” news for South Texas.
“By enhancing security, shortening wait times, and supporting our growing demand for cross border movement, we are ensuring Brownsville remains a competitive entrance for trade, tourism, and travel,” he said.
The bridge is owned and operated by Cameron County.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño said said the county advocated for funding for this expansion and modernization.
For this project come to fruition and to have a the contract awarded, Treviño said, “is a huge step in the process, and we are excited for the project to start.”
“The Valley as a whole and Cameron County have grown quite a bit and especially over the last five, 10, 15 years so we need more lanes, we need more personnel,” Treviño told KVEO.
Treviño says this will be the first major renovation since 1959. And he said during construction travel wait times will increase.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
Read: Read More