The Pharr International Bridge , which provide a direct connection between the US and Mexico and is locate in Pharr , Texas , has been understand major enlargement in recent years with more plan for expanding upon and innovation currently being carry out . The bridge circuit services three major sectors : produce , vigour ( such as oil and natural gas ) , and raw manufacture , and it is ranked as the number 1 develop bridge in the US , being responsible for for crossing 65 % of the nation ’s green goods . Tony Martinez of Primo Trading Services is the Vice Chair of the Board for the bridge and Luis Bazan is the Bridge Director , and they discussed how 2020 has been and what plans will be carry out in the approaching year .
The role of produceBecause the bridge provides a lineal connection between the US and Mexico , bring about crossings are an intact part of the bridge ’s dealings . “ Right now , the full crossing on the Pharr International Bridge represent about $ 35 billion in trade annually and that number continues to increase every single twelvemonth . 17 % of the total crossings are avocados , and 11 % are berries , ” says Martinez . Bazan supply : “ The latest study shows the bridge to be the 29th most important crossroad among all land , sea and airports in the US , out of a total of 485 ports . For green goods , specifically , the bridge is the act one crossing . This cogitation was first conducted five years ago and since then we ’ve been able-bodied to gauge where we stomach in terms of other swap hub . Ever since then , our truck traffic has only been increasing . ”Throughout 2020 , despite the complications the pandemic has land across the world , the produce carrefour for the bridge have seen an step-up . “ In 2020 , everyone in the provision concatenation was strike , but produce consumption in the US increased , ” says Martinez . Bazan adds : “ We were expecting big loss due to the pandemic – in April we expected there to be a 30 - 40 % exit in truck traffic and it ended up only being 13 % . In May , too , we expected 20 - 25 % losses , but it was only 7 % . Those were the only two months where we actually saw some losses , overall , throughout 2020 we have seen tremendous traffic spike . ”The bridge ’s produce season runs from October through September , and it of late kicked off its newfangled 2020 - 2021 season . “ January through March score the summit of the time of year . This preceding summertime we have seen consistent ontogeny in green goods shipments from Mexico , averaging 14,000 to 15,000 shipments per month , and this is expected to increase during the peak time of year , to over 18,000 to 20,000 lading per month ” Bazan explains , adding : “ Avocados and Chuck Berry are some of the biggest time value commodity that traverse through the bridgework . ”Plans for expansionThis class , construction started on two additional north - tie lane on the bridge deck , which are expected to be finish by March of 2022 . “ This project will include a gate - to - gate military service that will allow trucks to be see to it electronically . Some trucks will be able to get pre - certified and then circumvent the moment spate through integrated lading processing , ” explain Bazan . “ While this wo n’t hold specifically to trucks carrying green goods , it will have an indirect shock on produce because it will appropriate for increased efficiency and eliminate about 800 trucks a day from the workload of the Customs and Border Protection work party . When these 800 trucks will be liberate up , the CPB will be capable to get through the trucks stock produce much faster , ” Martinez impart .
Another priority project that is afoot is the bridge deck enlargement , for which they were accord a presidential permit in December 2020 . “ This will basically be a twin bridge , adjacent to the current bridgework , ” says Martinez . Bazan explains : “ It will be four lanes and the construction on this will start in late 2021 / early 2022 and will last 15 - 16 calendar month . This means we anticipate the project to be completed mid- to late summer of 2023 . Martinez adds : “ We ’re thinking ahead to the next 20 to 30 years , and the new bridge will really set up the standard for the coming 10 . ”The Donations Acceptance Program ( DAP ) has provided an avenue for build up the additional infrastructure for the bridge . “ There will be a stale inspection adroitness , and agricultural science lab AND training nerve center and a complete enlargement of the dock . The cold inspection facility will allow for hasten review for produce and it will be much more New , with good temperature ascendency . The grooming nitty-gritty and the dry loading dock will leave CBP and USDA to provide on - site training for future ag inspectors and bug-hunter . All of this should make the transports and crossings much more efficient . Construction on this should be completed around 2024 , ” share Martinez . ultimately , design are also in the whole works for the long - term future of the bridge . “ We are part of a Texas - Mexico Border Master Plan , which looks to make the logistics much more effective . By 2050 , we want to gear up a novel standard for logistics . We need to expand the current importation and export lots for the bridge deck and implement a rail and air cargo project . We are think outside the box and looking at what others are doing to develop new pilot platform , ” Martinez say . “The Pharr International Bridge has grown into a very significant larboard of entry in the 26 years that it has been operational . Now , at the end of the 2020 fiscal twelvemonth , the numbers are higher than ever , and with the expansion project that we are currently working on , we are hopeful that we will continue to turn in revenue , efficiency , and significance , ” Bazan concludes . For more entropy : Tony MartinezPrimo Trading ServicesTel : +1 ( 956 ) 800 - 4343Email:[email protected]www.primotradingservices.comLuis BazanCity of Pharr – International BridgeTel : +1 ( 956 ) 402 - 4660Email:[email protected]bridge.pharr - tx.gov
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