A Private Bridge Crosses the Border
January 14, 2010
Tamaulipas News
A Private Bridge Crosses the Border
"Amid much fanfare, a new bridge over the Rio Grande was christened this week between Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and Mission, Texas. Estimated to cost in
the ballpark of $100 million, the Mexican-built structure will connect traffic from hundreds of maquiladora plants to destinations in the US.
Opened for light traffic last month, the new Anzalduas Bridge is expected to begin handling heavier commercial trucks by 2012.
In a ceremony attended by hundreds of elected and appointed officials from both sides of the border, Mexican President Felipe Calderon praised the
long bridge as an example of the ties that bind a capital-intensive United States and a labor-intensive Mexico. "Our economies are designed to
complement one another," Calderon said."
The dominant role of private capital in the construction and operation of the Anzalduas Bridge distinguishes it from similar border crossings.
Mexico City's Mahrnos development company was awarded a 30-year concession from the Mexican federal government to build and operate the bridge.
Financing for the bridge came from from Mahrnos' own investment as well as a loan from the Monterrey-based Banorte bank, which became a partner in the
project.
The Anzalduas Bridge project has not been without controversy. For example, former construction workers including Jorge Guerrero and Manuel Mendiela
charged late last year that Mahrnos had not made adequate severance payments to laid-off laborers. According to the workers, the
severances amounted to only about $500 for nearly two years of work.
Mahrnos representatives Laura Cortez Hernandez and Alejandro Penafiel declined to answer Mexican reporters' questions about the payments, and
reportedly tossed journalists out of company offices.
Officials present at the January inauguration ceremony for the northern border's new bridge included Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa, US
Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, among many others. In all, Mexico plans to build seven new bridges to connect the
country with its northern neighbor."
Sources: Enlineadirecta.info, January 12, 2010. Article by Carlos Pena Palacio. Agencia Reforma, January 12, 2010. Article by Miguel Dominguez. El
Universal, January 12, 2010. Article by David Aguilar Juarez. Presidencia.gob.mx. January 11, 2010. Press release. Milenio.com, January 9, 2010.
Metronoticas.com, October 26, 2009. Article by Sofia Rodriguez.
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
For a free electronic subscription email: fnsnews@nmsu.ed
[Edited on 1-16-2010 by Gypsy Jan]
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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"capital-intensive" is that like "transparency" or "harmonization" or ........... "isoquant"
Really like having the financial industry helping out, as they have done just a "cracker jack" job so far... seems they are getting their BONUSES for
their "sterling work" over the past year..
Guess we should take a moment to say thanks: to B of A, Lynch, AIG, J.P. Morgan, among just a few that come to mind..
Keep it up guys, just super .... Seems they know loads about "risk".. just ask them..
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