Donna International Bridge: The New Commercial Freight Crossing Option in the Rio South Texas Region

With a multimillion-dollar investment and a vision for regional development, the city of Donna is preparing to begin construction of the infrastructure that will allow commercial cargo to move through its International Bridge, boosting the logistics competitiveness of the border.

Investment and start of construction

During a meeting held in the city of Río Bravo, Donna Mayor David Moreno, Mayor Miguel Almaraz and bridge director Maricela Gonzales led a meeting with business leaders, carriers and customs brokers to present progress on the expansion and modernization project for the border crossing.

The authorities reported that the project includes an investment of US$72 million on the U.S. side and the contract has already been signed and the groundbreaking is expected to take place between late June and early July.

The construction period will be approximately 18 months, with a target completion date of December 2027, which would allow operations to begin in 2028.

On the Mexican side, binational project coordinator Arturo de las Fuentes said the project is currently in the financing management phase, with an estimated investment of US$17 million.

Capacity, technology and operations

According to Maricela Gonzales, the bridge could handle between 75 and 100 trucks per hour, exceeding initial estimates.

The design will include:

• Full separation between commercial and passenger vehicle traffic
• Implementation of state-of-the-art technology
• An operating model considered a pilot project in the region

To strengthen connectivity across South Texas and northern Tamaulipas., the bridge is expected to:

• Reduce crossing times
• Diversify logistics options
• Strengthen binational trade

Donna has strategic land availability near the crossing that will allow the development of activities such as:

• Manufacturing
• Assembly
• Warehousing
• Distribution centers

According to Gonzales, there have already been discussions with companies interested in establishing operations in the city. However, the goal is to attract companies with a long-term vision, a well-defined business plan and the ability to contribute to the growth not only of Donna, but of the entire region.

“We want to build an ecosystem that drives industry, talent and innovation on both sides of the border,” she highlighted.