The City of McAllen is excited to announce a momentous agreement between the Anzalduas International Bridge Board and the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes in Mexico. The agreement will provide for the financing of the construction of one additional lane and equipment on the Mexican side for the Anzalduas Reynosa-Mission International Bridge to allow southbound empty commercial trailer truck traffic.
“It is vital to our area to continue to support not only our international crossings on this side of the river, but in Mexico where we have had a long standing working relationship with our counterparts. We have long recognized that our international bridges require cooperation of both Mexico and U.S operations. The project will enhance maquiladora commerce,” said Mayor Jim Darling. “The resulting tolls will provide for the payment of the costs of this project.”
The mutual agreement was made possible after a joint declaration between Mexico and the United States.
“It is so important to strengthen the support and cooperation between the Mexican government and the Anzalduas International Bridge Board. We need to continue to foster this friendship, cooperation and coordination to develop infrastructure and to facilitate border commerce,” said Hidalgo Mayor Martin Cepeda.
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed to establish a high level economic dialogue to analyze the economic priorities and commercial strategies to create mutual economic growth, employment and economic competitiveness for both countries.
“We have been working with Mexico to improve customer service to commercial truck traffic going south. It’s a win-win situation for Mexico and the U.S. In the agreement, it allows us to finance up to $900,000 for infrastructure on the Mexican side of the Anzalduas International Bridge,” said Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas.
The much-needed lane and booth will provide empty commercial trailer truck traffic considerable relief.
“The Anzalduas International Bridge Board will recover the funds from Mexico through reimbursed toll fees,” said Rigoberto Villarreal, International Bridge Superintendent. “It’s called an Inter Institutional Agreement because of the Joint Declaration between President Obama and President Peña Nieto in 2013.”
Two northbound vehicular passenger lanes are currently in the design phase. Construction is expected to begin in January.
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