Pharr International Bridge Expands with New Commercial Lane and Inspection Facility
By Viviana Cervantes
August 1, 2024
The Pharr International Bridge, connecting Pharr, Texas, with Reynosa, Tamaulipas, has expanded its northbound commercial lane and inaugurated a new Border Safety Inspection Facility (BSIF) for trucks entering from Mexico. This enhancement will increase the capacity and efficiency of the international route, which handles over 2,700 commercial trucks daily.
Luis Bazan, the Director of the Pharr International Bridge, emphasized that this infrastructure development was made possible through the Donations Acceptance Program (DAP), a collaboration involving the City of Pharr, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). "This will increase our commercial capacity and provide new competitive advantages for our region, which requires agile processes in commerce; we will continue progressing with other growth and expansion projects," Bazan highlighted.
The expansion includes two new commercial exit booths on the northbound lane, which will help streamline the flow of commercial traffic and inspections coming from Mexico. It also offers a direct route for certified, empty, and secure trucks, featuring two commercial exit lanes. The new BSIF module will facilitate the truck inspection process.
The United States has several commercial ports of entry along its borders, and the Pharr International Bridge, located within the Pharr Port, is among the most important for the crossing of perishables. It has also established itself as a leader in the crossing of fuels, various automotive parts, electrical-electronic components, medical supplies, and more.
Pharr Bridge Expansion
The Pharr International Bridge is progressing on its expansion project, which includes constructing new lanes to further improve commercial processes and inspections. This effort, underway for over nine years, is nearing execution, with a groundbreaking ceremony planned on the U.S. side for August 14. Meanwhile, construction on the Mexican side began earlier and is 85% complete. "This will set a new standard for the economic growth and development of our community and region," Bazan concluded.
The inauguration ceremony for the northbound lane and the BSIF exit booth was attended by various dignitaries from the City of Pharr, CBP officials, legislators, and business leaders.