In anticipation of heavy traffic for Semana Santa this week, local international bridges will help pay overtime for additional staffing over the next week.
In anticipation of heavy traffic for Semana Santa this week, local international bridges will help pay overtime for additional staffing over the next week.
Working with Customs and Border Protection, the Anzalduas International Bridge will pay overtime costs to assist CBP with additional staffing and open lanes on Thursday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to a news release from the city of McAllen.
The Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge will also pay overtime, but on Monday. The bridge paid overtime on this past Monday, as well. Bridge Director Luis Bazan said CBP determined the days the staffing was needed based on last year’s numbers.
Both bridges will be paying through the Section 559 program, which is a provision that allows public-private partnerships within the Department of Homeland Security. The program allows CBP and stakeholders to enter into agreements to help pay for staffing and infrastructure at ports of entry. The program helps save cities from paying for these federal needs.
The Anzalduas and McAllen-Hidalgo bridges utilized this program as well over the Thanksgiving holiday.
