Pharr’s international bridge expansion is moving closer to completion — and the impact could be massive.
Pharr’s international bridge expansion is nearing completion, with a $150 million investment aimed at reducing wait times and accelerating cross-border trade.
Bridge Director Luis Bazán says the project will support faster movement of goods, expand capacity, and reinforce the Rio Grande Valley’s role as a critical U.S.–Mexico trade corridor.
Trade through Pharr already totals roughly $50 billion annually and supports tens of thousands of jobs across Texas.
The following is an AI-generated transcript of the Podcast with Luis Bazan, the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge director. There may be minor mistakes in the transcript, please refer to the link above or listen on your favorite podcast provider.
Naxi Lopez: Hi, and thank you for joining us on this episode of the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal podcast. I’m Naxiely Lopez Puente, and today we’re talking all things international trade with our guest, Pharr bridge director Luis Bazán. Luis, thank you so much for joining us.
Luis Bazán: Thank you for having me. It’s been a busy morning, but we’re glad to finally make this happen after a few weeks of trying.
Naxi Lopez: The big headline is that Pharr is expanding its bridge and nearly doubling capacity. Is that correct?
Luis Bazán: That is the goal. We’re investing about $150 million in new infrastructure at the port of entry, including a physical bridge expansion that will significantly increase capacity and reduce wait times.
Luis Bazán: Ultimately, it’s about moving trade faster and bringing more business through the region.
Naxi Lopez: What does this expansion mean for produce and other goods moving through Pharr?
Luis Bazán: Currently, about 5,000 trucks cross the bridge daily, inbound and outbound. Roughly 30% of those are certified conveyances vetted by the federal government after rigorous inspections.
Luis Bazán: With the expansion, we’re building two FAST lanes—Free And Secure Trade—running from Mexico into the United States. That’s where the zero-wait concept becomes real.
Naxi Lopez: You mentioned earlier that construction is about 80% complete.
Luis Bazán: That’s correct. We broke ground in August 2024 and expect the project to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, with operations beginning around March.
Naxi Lopez: There’s been a lot of discussion around tariffs and trade enforcement. Have you seen any impacts so far?
Luis Bazán: We don’t expect to see direct tariff impacts until later in 2026, if at all. There are too many unknowns at the federal level right now.
Luis Bazán: What we have seen is a month-to-month fluctuation driven by factors like government shutdowns or blockades in Mexico.
Naxi Lopez: But when you look at long-term trends, what do the numbers show?
Luis Bazán: Year over year, we’re seeing growth of 3% to 5%. Since 2001, the compound annual growth rate has been in the double digits.
Naxi Lopez: Has English-language enforcement for drivers caused slowdowns?
Luis Bazán: So far, we haven’t seen major impacts in the Valley. Most drivers operate regionally, and Spanish remains the dominant language here. Still, we’re working with partners to provide English training.
Naxi Lopez: The Texas Comptroller was in Pharr today. What stood out from that visit?
Luis Bazán: The data aligned with what we’ve been reporting. Trade through this bridge supports about 92,000 jobs and roughly $50 billion in annual trade value.
Luis Bazán: Seeing these operations firsthand helps policymakers truly understand the scale and importance of this port.
Naxi Lopez: Luis, thank you for taking the time to join us.
Luis Bazán: We’re just getting started. There’s more investment, more projects, and more growth ahead.
Naxi Lopez: Thank you, and thank you to our viewers. Be sure to subscribe and join us next week.
