Renovations for the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge will begin later this Summer.

The renovations include a new bus inspection and passengerprocessing area, featuring individual bus stalls, pedestrian inspection lanes, a waiting area, restrooms, and a canopy for loading and unloading buses.

Congressman Henry Cuellar says he is also working to secure additional funding for renovations to the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge also known as bridge one as well as adding areas to improvetravelers experience.

"To add an area where there can be vendors for beverages or of food just like we see at airports. Maybe not as big as the airport but we need to have something were the people can find some comfort when they come and spend literally millions and millions of dollars over a period of time", said Cuellar.

The historic administration building will also see exterior renovations and interior spaces will be remodeled to improve pedestrian flow.

Congressman Henry Cuellar announced renovations to Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, also known as Bridge II, will begin later this summer thanks to funds he was able to secure during the Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2014 Budget.

Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC of Birmingham, Alabama, has been awarded the contract for the project and will oversee the $62 million contract for the Vehicle Processing Facility at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge. The renovations include a new bus inspection and passenger processing area to include individual bus stalls, pedestrian inspection lanes, waiting area, restrooms, and a canopy for loading and unloading buses.

“This is historic,” said Congressman Cuellar. “The City of Laredo has received a large amount of money for improvements to Bridge II & Bridge I.”

Congressman Cuellar is currently working with GSA to secure additional funding for renovations to Gateway to the Americas International Bridge, also known as Bridge I. These renovations will include changes to the exterior of the historic administration building, as well as the interior spaces that will help improve pedestrian flow in a more efficient manner.

“I thank General Services Administration Administrator Denise Turner Roth and Regional Administrator Sylvia L. Hernandez for their tremendous support of this project,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Improvements to these bridges will continue securing Laredo’s position as a pivotal route for shoppers and travelers, who contribute millions of dollars annually to our economy. I want to thank David Higgerson, CBP Director of Field Operations for the Laredo Field Office, for working with us to obtain a better blueprint on the format of the construction of both bridges to allow for an improved flow of pedestrians and noncommercialvehicles. Mr. Higgerson has worked with me to get a section of both bridges allocated for vendors to sell beverages and snacks to those accessing the bridges. We will work with the City of Laredo, the City of Nuevo Leon, CBP, Mexican Customs and the private sector to minimize disruption to the flow of traffic during construction and surrounding businesses.”

International Bridge II ranked the second busiest crossing for buses in Fiscal Year 2012 with an average of 106 buses a day. In 2012 and 2013, International Bridge I was the fourth busiest bridge for privately owned vehicle crossings with 3,364,645 and 3,519,680, respectively.

http://www.kgns.tv/news/local/headlines/Cuellar-announces-multi-million-dollar-renovation-project-for-Juarez-Lincoln-International-Bridge-309860851.html