San Luis Port of Entry expansion project breaks ground

Senator Mark Kelly and Governor Katie Hobbs were among those who came to San Luis for the ceremony

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - Federal, state, and local leaders broke ground on the San Luis Port Expansion project on Tuesday.

It’s the first port to begin getting renovated after the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The massive project is expected to cost around $300 million according to the General Services Administration, as they plan to double the number of vehicle lanes from eight to sixteen, add four pedestrian lanes, and boost overall technology.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly attended the groundbreaking and said it took many years of effort leading to this day.

“When you consider how many people and vehicles come through this port of entry, it was obvious it needed a major upgrade," Kelly said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said three million cars and two million people cross back and forth a year, numbers well beyond the port’s capacity when it was originally designed.

As Senator Kelly added, the modernization will get the port to handle current demand, and be prepared for future growth.

"If we can get more cars, trucks, and people across the border it will benefit our economy,” Kelly said.

There have been some reported delays recently with crossing back into the U.S. as construction begins.

Port Director John Schwamm said travelers should account for possible delays in their trip planning.

“Some patience needs to be had by those who travel back and forth, but we’re going to mitigate those concerns by as much as we can," Schwamm said.

Mayor of San Luis Nieves Riedel also urged her community to be patient as construction begins.

“But in the end, it’s a project that will do wonderful things for our city and future generations," Riedel said.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs also came down to south county for the groundbreaking.

Governor Hobbs said in her speech that she’s excited for what the port project can do for the future of San Luis, Yuma County, and the rest of the state.

“We will continue to carefully evaluate and identify the specific needs of each area, and tailor the support to those needs," Hobbs said.

Both phases of construction are scheduled to be complete by the fall of 2028.