A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday morning at Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates for a Donations Acceptance Program project that will improve the flow of passenger vehicles between Brownsville and Matamoros and on I-69E.
The DAP program was established U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2015 to explore, foster and facilitate partnerships to improve infrastructure and technology at U.S. ports-of-entry.
Cameron County, which owns Veterans International Bridge along with the city of Brownsville, announced in March 2021 that the DAP agreement with CBP had been executed.
The $15 million project, being paid for in part through $10 million in federal funds, will include construction of four inbound lanes and primary booths for privately owned vehicles plus an expanded secondary inspection area with an integrated canopy.
The aim is to reduce wait and travel times, thereby easing congestion and closing a gap in the original Border Station Master Plan. Currently only two northbound lanes are available for passenger vehicles at Veterans bridge.
As of last year the project design had been completed and construction fully funded.
The bridge project is considered a regional, national and international “project of significance” that will increase border trade in the area in addition to reducing congestion, according to county officials.
On hand for the groundbreaking and “celebration of successful partnerships” were Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. and Brownsville CBP Port Director Tater Ortiz, along with other representatives from CBP, Cameron County Commissioners Court, Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority and the U.S. General Services Administration.
