MCALLEN, Texas - McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez says Anzalduas International Bridge will be “game changer” for the Rio Grande Valley and the state of Texas - once it can take trucks carrying cargo.
At the moment, Anzalduas can take empty trucks going southbound into Mexico. That should change soon, Rodriguez said, during a webinar hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. The webinar showcased McAllen as a place worthy of commercial investment.
“Our bridges are our way of life for South Texas. We are very proud to own two international bridges. We have a team of cities that have partnered for many, many years, on Hidalgo Bridge and Anzalduas Bridge,” Rodriguez said.
“Anzalduas is really the future for us. It is a big part of the future of this region.”
Rodriguez pointed out that Anzalduas Bridge has been open for about ten years.
“We have only been able to have vehicular traffic go through it. And, in the last few years we have had empty trucks going southbound into Mexico. We are currently designing the cargo facilities,” Rodriguez said, proudly.
“I will use something the mayor uses all the time: is just going to be a game changer.”
Many of the listeners on the webinar were potential investors and real estate developers. Rodriguez explained why Anzalduas is going to make a big difference.
“When we open up Anzalduas for cargo it is going to really, really, develop our region and our state. In McAllen, we realize that the bridges are much more than another revenue (stream). Anzalduas Bridge impacts the State of Texas and the United States,” Rodriguez said.
By way of example, Rodriguez highlighted the parts that go into making automobiles. He said many of these parts cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
“A lot of folks outside of our region do not realize that parts coming from Mexico, northbound, are going as far as Michigan, in order to put cars together, with parts made back here, across the border. So, Anzalduas is definitely going to be a game changer.”
Rodriguez said a plan to develop Anzalduas so it can take fully loaded trucks is 90 percent complete. He said the plan will incorporate the Donations Acceptance Program, which allows municipalities to work with the federal government to fund infrastructure projects at international ports of entry.
“It will be submitted through the DAP program, our partners with CBP, GSA and all the others that will use the facilities have been part of that design from the beginning. We did not want to guess what they needed. They have been around the table with us, designing this port of entry and we are very excited that we will be turning dirt on that in 2021.”
CBP stands for Customs and Border Protection. GSA stands for General Services Administration.
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