Groundbreaking ceremony for new pedestrian processing annex

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection (CBP) co-hosted a groundbreaking ceremony that marked the start of construction of a new addition to the existing pedestrian processing building at the San Luis I Land Port of Entry (LPOE). CBP said in a press release sent Tuesday, the new facility will expand processing capacity for pedestrian travelers between the San Luis, Ariz. and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, and add new offices and public spaces.

Located at Highway 95 and the U.S. border in San Luis, CBP said this $6 million project will include a building that delivers approximately 8,000 square feet of efficient, secure workspace for CBP. Upon completion in fall 2018, the proposed design aims to deliver a facility that lowers operating and life-cycle costs despite its location in a desert climate. Solar panels, high levels of insulation and use of natural lighting are incorporated with low-use water fixtures and native landscaping to help the facility thrive in extremely dry conditions.

U.S. General Services Administration:

“GSA, working closely with CBP, will expand the pedestrian facility at the San Luis I Land Port of Entry to better serve cross-border travelers,” said Dan Brown, GSA’s Pacific Rim Acting Regional Administrator. “We look forward to continuing to work with our partners in the federal and local governments to build an efficient and cost-effective facility.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection:

“This project provides a facility that allows for improvement of pedestrian processing for cross-border travelers entering the U.S., in a safe and more efficient manner,” said John Schwamm, Area Port Director, San Luis. “The improvements will allow CBP to continue to protect our nation’s borders while facilitating the trade and flow of commerce between the United States and Mexico.”

Governor Doug Ducey:

“I’m pleased to see this significant investment in our infrastructure, which will help boost economic activity on both sides of the border,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “I look forward to continuing to work with our federal and international partners to expand opportunities with Mexico and grow jobs for Arizonans.”

We have several reporters at this groundbreaking event. We will provide you with more details of this story in all of our newscasts.