Brownsville Breaks Ground on $264M Gateway Land Port of Entry Modernization

Brownsville marked a major infrastructure milestone with the groundbreaking of the Gateway Land Port of Entry modernization project, an estimated $264 million investment aimed at improving border operations, security, and cross-border mobility.

The project reinforces Brownsville’s position as a key U.S.-Mexico gateway and aligns with the city’s broader “One City” approach to building a more connected and competitive community.

A major upgrade for Brownsville’s international gateway

According to the U.S. General Services Administration, the Brownsville-Gateway Land Port of Entry is located on nine acres in downtown Brownsville and supports approximately 92,000 passenger vehicles and 89,000 pedestrians each month through the Gateway International Bridge. The facility has operated since the 1920s and has seen limited renovations since the 1990s.

The modernization will include a new 48,000-square-foot administration building, replacing the current 22,000-square-foot space. The inspection area will also expand from five to 10 primary lanes and from 15 to 24 secondary inspection spaces, adding capacity for more efficient daily operations.

Infrastructure tied to trade, mobility, and long-term growth

The groundbreaking brought together federal, state, and local leaders, including John Cowen, Mayor of Brownsville; Robert Ortiz, Regional Administrator-West for the U.S. General Services Administration; Donald Kusser, Director of Field Operations for the Laredo Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Tracy O. King, Chairman and Texas State Representative; and Eddie Treviño Jr., Cameron County Judge.

For Brownsville, the project represents more than a facility upgrade. It is an investment in the infrastructure that supports trade, tourism, daily cross-border movement, and long-term economic opportunity between South Texas and Mexico.