Meeting to discuss BOTA SB Lanes resurfacing

Summary of Meeting

April 29, 2010 -- The El Paso/Juarez trade community was advised by CBP today that the BOTA (Cordova bridge) southbound lanes will be resurfaced. The project will begin on 5/10 and is scheduled to end on 5/21; however, CBP advised that it may run through 5/29.

During the resurfacing project, all southbound commercial lanes (from El Paso to Juarez) will be closed. CBP and Aduanas Mexico have worked together to come up with a plan to allow empty trailers only to be shipped to Mexico through the BOTA bridge using the northbound lanes.

All other northbound commercial traffic and all loaded southbound commercial traffic will be routed through the Ysleta bridge for the duration of the project. This means that there will probably be long lines at the bridge, especially in the afternoons. CBP has agreed to keep all cargo inspection booths open beginning when the bridge opens at 6:00 am until it is determined that booths can be closed. As most of you know, the lines at the bridge get longer as the day goes on. With only one commercial bridge open in El Paso, the usually long lines will likely be even longer on both sides of the bridge, which will make it difficult for the drivers to move multiple shipments.

The Ysleta bridge is a tolled bridge. The fee for northbound shipments is $11.27 per vehicle. The fee for southbound shipments is $17.50 per tractor/trailer and $10.50 per short truck.

Please note that this will have an impact on private vehicle traffic also. There will be two lanes, instead of 4 to handle the southbound traffic on BOTA.