Bazan: We plan to eliminate wait times at Pharr International Bridge

MCALLEN, Texas — Pointing to $150 million to $170 million in transformative infrastructure improvements, Pharr International Bridge Director Luis Bazan told regional manufacturing leaders that the land port is shifting from controlling border delays to aggressively eliminating them.

Addressing the South Texas Manufacturers Association as the keynote speaker at the DoubleTree by Hilton in McAllen, Bazan unveiled the bridge’s new marketing campaign and operational strategy: "Faster Trade, Zero Wait."

"We know that sounds out of this world. Might sound like pie in the sky, but that's what we want to get to," Bazan said. "Eventually, we want to get to a point for Pharr, for the region, that we start eliminating wait times... because we know that time is money, and at the end of the day, we need to get products to the consumer on time."

Celebrating its 31st anniversary this November, the Pharr International Bridge currently facilitates roughly $50 billion in annual global trade across 90 countries. Backed by new tracking data via Panjiva, Bazan detailed that finished manufactured goods account for 74% of total trade value by product, followed by produce and perishables at 19%, and energy, oil, and gas at 7%. Average daily commercial crossings range between 5,700 and 6,000 trucks.

Bazan outlined several landmark projects aimed at doubling capacity and streamlining cross-border logistics:

• Bridge Expansion: Construction on the second span is virtually complete, with crews finalizing punch-list items ahead of an operational launch scheduled for mid-September. The $50 million investment expands capacity from four lanes to eight (two inbound and six outbound), featuring a 1,000-linear-foot crossover span.
• DAP 15 FAST Lanes: Operating since March 2, 2026, through the federal Donations Acceptance Program, the project adds two primary commercial lanes and two exit lanes, routing certified supply-chain traffic gate-to-gate directly to the Border Safety Inspection Facility without entering the import lot.
• DAP 16 Import Lot & Ag Center: The $45 million, 65,000-square-foot enhancement is 75% complete and set to open in the first quarter of 2027. It includes a dry dock, cold inspection facility, and a regional laboratory and agriculture training center.
• Truck Park and Rest Facility: Expected to finish construction by December 2026 and become operational in Q1 2027, the 20-acre, 300-space truck park will offer full amenities for commercial drivers.

Bazan also announced an official binational ribbon-cutting celebration scheduled for Nov. 12, 2026, to be hosted directly atop the new international bridge span.