
General Services Administration Regional Administrator Sylvia Hernandez said the new port will enhance security along America’s border with Mexico and create jobs in the local community.
Hernandez, who was born and raised in Deming and graduated from Deming High in 1974, said she was proud of the partnerships created at the federal, state and local levels during the planning phases of the project, adding that the project will benefit the village of Columbus and surrounding areas with needed infrastructure improvements to support the region for years to come.
The new port facilities are being touted as larger and more efficient while also addressing flooding issues through site improvements to control storm water flow.
The current facility was built in 1989 and was designed to accommodate visitors and a few commercial vehicles entering the United States. Since that time, the port has gained significance in agricultural trade and the number of daily crossings has increased substantially.
Construction is expected to begin in January 2017, and be completed in February 2019.