City of Eagle Pass Submits Application for Amendment of Presidential Permit to Expand Camino Real International Bridge to 12 Lanes
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas has submitted its Application for Amendment of Presidential Permit to Expand Camino Real International Bridge to 12 Lanes with the United States Department of State on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, announced Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr.
Mayor Salinas stated the City of Eagle Pass and its consultants, LJM Engineering, had completed the application to expand Camino Real International Bridge from six to 12 lanes and forwarded it to the U. S. Department of State for their review and approval within 120 days according to the new International Bridge Presidential Permit law approved by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in December of 2023.
Mayor Salinas thanked the collaboration of all parties and persons who contributed in putting together the City’s application for amendment of the Presidential Permit, including State of Coahuila Governor Manolo Jimenez Salinas, Coahuila Trade Ambassador to Texas Claudio Bres Garza, Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mayor Norma Trevino Galindo, International Trade Consultant Morris Libson, Jr., United States Customs and Border Protection, Mexican Federal Customs Department, Texas Department of Transportation, City consultant firm of LJM Engineering, City Manager Homero Balderas, Eagle Pass International Bridge General Manager Ronnie Rivera and staff, City employees, and many additional persons and entities whom supported the research and documentation necessary for the application.
Mayor Salinas noted this application is a total bi-national team effort between the City of Eagle Pass and the State of Coahuila, as well as the United States and Mexican governments.
Mayor Salinas added the City of Eagle Pass and the State of Coahuila are ready and prepared to answer any questions from the U. S. Department of State concerning the application for the presidential permit amendment.
Mayor Salinas is looking forward to presenting and defending the City of Eagle Pass’s application for the presidential permit amendment, expanding the Camino Real International Bridge from six to 12 lanes.
Although the presidential permit application amendment was delayed by transportation infrastructure logistics and other reasons, Mayor Salinas is optimistic the City’s application will be granted on its merits. Salinas added the Camino Real International Bridge expansion to 12 lanes will increase international export and import trade at the Port of Eagle Pass and enhance its competitiveness among United States-Mexico Ports of Entry.
According to Coahuila Trade Ambassador Claudio Bres Garza at the Port of Eagle Pass Trade Seminar in 2024, the Port of Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila has the potential to grow from its current $34 billion to up to $750 billion by 2050 provided the infrastructure and transportation logistics are developed and constructed to meet the demand.
The City of Eagle Pass owns the Camino Real International Bridge on the United States while the State of Coahuila owns the bridge on the Mexican side.
