Congressman Henry Cuellar on Thursday announced that renovations to Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge will begin later this summer thanks to federal funds he was able to secure.

Brasfield & Gorrie, 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,” Cuellar said. “The City of Laredo has received a large amount of money for improvements to bridge II and bridge I.”

Cuellar is working with the General Services Administration to secure additional funding for renovations to Gateway to the Americas International Bridge. 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,” Cuellar said. “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 noncommercial vehicles. 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 Laredo, 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.

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