Bridge of the Americas

Key Concern

No Economic Impact Study was conducted during the NEPA process, meaning the decision does not fully account for the effects on trade, supply chains, jobs, and the regional economy. The El Paso Chamber is seeking federal reconsideration and time for an independent economic analysis before implementation moves forward.

Bridge of the Americas (El Paso–Ciudad Juárez)

Why It Matters

BOTA handles approximately 1,500 trucks per day and facilitated $20.6 billion in trade in 2024 alone. As El Paso's only toll-free port of entry and a critical link in manufacturing supply chains, it plays an outsized role in the region's economy — accounting for roughly 20% of all Texas-Mexico trade as part of the $105 billion that moves through El Paso ports annually.

Economic Impact at Risk

Eliminating commercial operations at BOTA would result in a 40% reduction in commercial capacity, leaving more than 1 million trucks without adequate capacity over a six-year period. The projected trade losses are significant — $14.2 billion for Texas and $29.6 billion nationally — even as trade through the bridge has been on a strong growth trajectory, up 34% in 2025 and 37.7% between 2019 and 2024.

An aerial view of the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso, Texas. Photo by James Tourtellotte.

Regional Consequences

The decision would place increased strain on the Ysleta-Zaragoza Port of Entry, disrupt the Juárez manufacturing base, and undermine the region's $96 million I-10 Connect investment. It would also contribute to increased congestion and emissions across the border region.

Path Forward

The BOTA Commercial Mobility Coalition is calling on federal partners to pause implementation of Alternative 4, complete an independent economic impact study, and preserve commercial operations at BOTA to protect the region's trade infrastructure and long-term economic vitality.