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Eagle Pass trustees hear update on Bridge 2 realignment, environmental review and federal coordination
Summary
City staff told the City of Eagle Pass Bridge Board of Trustees that design plans for a lane realignment to separate commercial traffic are complete, but the project still needs an environmental clearance and federal-agency coordination; staff also discussed infrastructure, drainage, and possible city subsidy for customs staffing shortfalls.
City of Eagle Pass Bridge Board of Trustees members heard a detailed update on the Bridge 2 lane realignment and deck-expansion project during a special meeting Monday.
The city engineer, Resolto, told trustees that consultant RRP has produced 100% design plans for the realignment, which would separate commercial trucks from regular traffic and include an overpass component that slightly encroaches on an existing baseball field. "It is a very complex project, very well thought out," Resolto said.
The engineer said the project cannot move forward to final approval until an environmental consultant performs excavation and on-site observation to determine whether historic materials are present. "They need to observe it, document it, and if it's all good, once we get to a depth of about 15, we can stop," Resolto said (units not specified in the report). That work, he said, is part of a pending environmental review that could take about six months.
Why it matters: separating commercial and passenger traffic is central to the citys plan to reduce congestion at the port of entry and improve safety and flow on local roads. The project will also require coordination with state and federal agencies and additional funding decisions by city leaders.
Staff described how the realignment would provide continuity for trucks and create ingress and egress to the port without interfering with local traffic. Resolto said some excavation will be needed and the design will include a drainage analysis to address impacts to a nearby pond.
The board also heard that the bridge-deck expansion and related work at the port will be split between consultants: RRP, which completed the primary design, and Ardura, which will handle the bridge-adjacent civil items and accommodate structures such as canopy and toll facilities. Resolto said Ardura is coordinating with federal departments, including the General Services Administration (GSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to define the scope of work for facilities at the crossing.
Resolto said LJA has been identified to handle the bridge-to-deck expansion design and that a contract proposal from LJA will be submitted to the city for the city manager to review and negotiate. "They're very up to speed on the project," Resolto said of LJA.
Trustees asked about how the project would affect recreational facilities and drainage. Resolto said the plan is to shift the baseball field and relocate stands so the field can remain in service except during construction, and that the drainage analysis will identify where stormwater impacts can be accommodated.
The board also discussed operational constraints beyond construction. Trustees and staff said CBP currently lacks personnel to staff all available lanes at the commercial crossing, a capacity issue that reduces the number of open booths to two or three and contributes to long wait times. Resolto said the city has requested CBP add commercial booths; the city is also considering whether to subsidize personnel hours to keep more lanes open during peak times. "It is an extremely expensive operation," he said, but added the city has subsidized operations in the past and may need to consider doing so again for peak hours.
Resolto said a conversation with a CBP official identified as APD Cortado confirmed CBP has requested funding to add two more commercial booths but that GSA funding processes can be lengthy.
Timing and next steps: staff projected that if design, environmental clearance and funding proceed, the six-lane southern expansion could be operational in early 2029. Resolto said the city will perform a value-engineering review to identify potential scope adjustments to control costs while preserving the project's primary purpose.
The city said federal approvals and CBP staffing commitments are prerequisites for full implementation. No formal board action was taken on the project at this meeting; staff said they will bring contract proposals and design exhibits to future meetings for additional review.
Ending: Staff said they will make design renderings available at the next meeting and will continue coordination with TxDOT, GSA and CBP as the city pursues environmental clearance and contract negotiations.
