The highly anticipated Anzalduas International Bridge is under construction. Ground broke officially on June 12, 2007 and will be completed June 2009. The bridge will have two southbound and northbound lanes and a pedestrian crossing. It will be 2.7 miles long and will cross a flood plain, wooded area, canal and the Rio Grande River. It will be located 3 miles up the Rio Grande River from the Hidalgo-Reynosa Bridge on Stewart Road in Mission, just southwest of McAllen. The crossing will connect at a loop road to the Texas Farm-to-Market Roads 494 and 1016 near Granjeno. The U.S. side of the bridge is expected to cost nearly $80 million, and will be paid for by the federal government, from the International Bridge Board (cities of Hidalgo, McAllen and Mission city of McAllen,) and the Texas Department of Transportation. The city of McAllen plans to earn back its $28.5 million investment through bridge tolls.

The bridge will connect the South McAllen and Mission international trade areas to the west end of Reynosa, where many maquiladoras and other cross-border businesses are located. This will help to facilitate just-in-time delivery, allowing companies to keep inventory costs down, progress trade with Monterrey, (because it is a quicker and safer route), and it will be the most efficient way for business traffic from northern Mexico to reach the United States. The bridge is also expected to create hundreds of new jobs.

Anzalduas Bridge Updates