Development
DAP15 PROJECT
Two Commercial Entry Lanes/Booths:
The expansion of the roadway leading to the Mexico customs export lot, along with the entry booths on the U.S. side will help expedite the flow of commercial traffic from Mexico to the U.S., allowing for more capacity on the bridge and the ability to inspect more trucks at one time. Additionally, it will create a direct passage for secure, certified and empty trucks, also known as gate-to-gate; dedicated FAST Certified Cargo and Pre-Certified Empties.
Two Commercial Exit Lanes/Booths:
The exit booth expansion and relocation will help expedite the flow of traffic inside the port, all while providing a more efficient connectivity to the new BSIF to complete the truck inspection process and get the cargo from its origin to its destination on time. Additionally, it will create a direct passage for secure, certified and empty trucks, also known as gate-to-gate; dedicated FAST Certified Cargo and Pre-Certified Empties.
DAP16 PROJECT
Dock expansion – phase I (dry dock):
The expansion will be an additional wing to the current dock, which will accommodate about 12 additional trucks for intensive inspection. The project will be done in 2 phases in order not to interrupt the current flow of truck throughput. Currently, the dock’s depth is only 50 feet, which requires up to 2 dock spaces for each truck (dry box/reefer) to be off-loaded. The expansion calls for an additional 30 feet, for a total of 80 feet per dock space, to maximize the use of the space in 1 dock only, per truck.
Dock expansion – phase II (cold inspection facility): The new facility will augment the current cold inspection service area by creating an additional 21,000 square feet of refrigerated units. The project will consist of 13 additional dock spaces/doors, which will be completely sealed when the truck backs up onto the dock. This will prevent the cold chain from being broken, which will allow for a safer and environmentally sound inspection process of certain perishables/produce that require colder temperatures to preserve their life expectancy and increase their shelf life when they get to market.
Regional AG Laboratory & Training Center:
The new facility will be a completely new brick and mortar building designed to meet the growing demands of the perishables/produce industry. It is estimated to be about 8,000 square feet in size. It will be built next to the new dock expansion and new cold inspection facility to allow for expedited transferring of products that need to be tested. The new facility will be a fully-equipped training and development center for agriculture specialists, entomologists and insect identifiers, to keep up with the exponential growth of perishables/produce importations that are being forecasted for the next 10 years.
BRIDGE EXPANSION PROJECT
The Expansion Project will add a ‘twin span’ adjacent to the existing Bridge, essentially doubling its capacity. The new span will add 4 lanes and a sidewalk to the existing 4 lanes and will include features such as two crossovers, additional lighting and electronic signage that will facilitate the flow of traffic, reduce wait times and enhance safety. The additional four lanes will also greatly enhance the capability to reduce the time to respond to any problems on the Bridge, such as accidents or mechanical breakdowns. At the crossovers linking the two bridges, it is envisioned that the number of northbound lanes will transition from four up to possibly six lanes. The six lanes entering the Port will allow for proper separation of northbound traffic (e.g., FAST, non-FAST, and empty trucks on the commercial side; and SENTRI, Ready Lane and other cars on the passenger vehicle side). Nevertheless, the City is working closely with CBP and GSA as the twin span is being designed to ensure the new span’s connection to the federal Port of Entry will fully support CBP operations.
Advantages and Benefits:
- 4 Additional Lanes
- Increased Capacity 100%
- Reduced Border Wait Times
- Improved Safety and Security
- A.S.T./Certified Designated Lanes
- Official Gate-to-Gate (Mexico to U.S.)
