Eagle Pass officials press federal partners as bridge congestion squeezes commerce

Local officials and staff told a regional meeting that bridge congestion at the Port of Eagle Pass is constraining commercial traffic and local economic activity, and they outlined ongoing projects and federal coordination needs to increase capacity.

What officials described: City and port staff reviewed two projects: (1) access improvements to speed vehicles to bridge toll booths and add two commercial inspection booths, and (2) construction of a parallel set of lanes adjacent to the existing bridge (a 6‑lane addition to create capacity for dedicated commercial lanes). The city reported plans to pursue state and federal funding while coordinating with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on staffing and inspection capacity.

Federal staffing limits are a central constraint. Officials said CBP has limited overtime budgets and that seasonal or fiscal limitations have exhausted available reimbursable overtime early in the year, limiting the agency’s ability to staff additional booths. City representatives said they have proposed reimbursable overtime arrangements for peak hours and are seeking federal waivers and advocacy from members of Congress and U.S. senators; they expect a Washington trip to meet Homeland Security officials.

Leaders warned the economic stakes are tangible: long waits have discouraged some cross‑border customers and commercial carriers, and officials said that persistent multi‑hour delays can depress sales tax revenues and long‑term trade flows. The meeting produced several next steps: compile traffic and commercial data to present to federal partners, pursue congressional support for staffing waivers or increased CBP resources, and advance design work so funding requests to TxDOT and federal agencies can be specific.

Quotes and context: A city staffer described the dual projects and said adding inspection booths and lanes is intended to create dedicated commercial lanes and speed processing. Participants also urged broader stakeholder engagement — county officials, transportistas and Mexican counterparts — and recommended sustained presence at TxDOT and federal briefings so Eagle Pass becomes a familiar advocate for funding.

Next steps: Staff will prepare specific cost estimates and traffic data for federal and state briefings; officials plan a D.C. visit in September to discuss staffing and processing with Homeland Security and to pursue legislative and appropriations support. No formal votes were taken at the meeting.