By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Mayor Al Arreola told members of the city’s international bridge board he believes the
results of a recent election clearly show Val Verde County voters support a second
international bridge.
Arreola made his comments during the bridge board’s monthly meeting on Nov. 18.
Arreola told the board, “On Nov. 4, 2025, voters have spoken out. (A second) bridge is
needed in Del Rio.”
Arreola also addressed the results of two questions voters were asked about where to site
a second bridge.
The mayor said he believed the results of the election showed voters were “totally
against” constructing a new bridge south of the existing international bridge.
A total of 2,034 voters cast ballots against locating a new bridge south of the existing
bridge, with a total of 1,304 voters in favor of the south side location, a difference of 730
votes.
A total of 1,746 voters cast ballots against siting the bridge north of the existing structure,
with 1,604 in favor of the north side location, a difference of 142 votes.
Arreola ended his comments by saying, “Now we have to move forward, continue our
studies and surveys and see where we end up come January or March.”
Arreola asked the two other bridge board members present at the meeting, Mario
Bosquez and Ruben Nino, if they had any comments, but neither did, and the mayor
moved forward with the rest of the agenda.
Bridge board members next listened to monthly reports about crossings of the existing
international bridge and a monthly operations report from International Bridge
Superintendent Jose L. Castillo.
traffic crossing report for the international bridge during the Nov. 18 bridge board
meeting as Jose Rivera, assistant international bridge superintendent, listens. (Photo by
Karen Gleason)
Castillo first gave a vehicle crossing analysis for the previous month, noting that during
October, 4,264 more automobiles and 53 more trucks crossed the bridge than in October
2024. He said the numbers represented a 2.8 percent increase in crossings of cars and
trucks over the same month last year. He also noted there was a 0.89 percent increase in
the number of commercial vehicles crossing the bridge in October of this year as
compared to October 2024.
Castillo said the bridge in October also saw an increase of 21.84 percent in the number of
bicycle crossings and a 9.67 percent increase in the number of pedestrians.
Following Castillo’s report, Arreola noted the number of commercial trucks crossing the
bridge has been steadily increasing, despite the federal government shutdown still
ongoing at the time and the U.S. tariff situation.
Arreola pointed out the commercial truck crossings for September had shown an increase
over the numbers for September 2024 as well, and Castillo agreed.
Castillo did mention, though, “right now, it’s starting to slow down.” He said he
anticipates traffic to begin increasing again after the first of the year, when persons who
traveled to Mexico for the holidays begin to return to the U.S.
Castillo’s traffic report also shows that the numbers of cars and trucks crossing the bridge
may have shown increases in January, August, September and October, but posted
decreases in all the other months this year.
Commercial truck crossings had increases in March, June, July, September and October
and decreases in the other months this year.
Bosquez asked about a report of an inspection of the bridge done by the Texas
Department of Transportation in October, and Assistant Bridge Superintendent Jose
Rivera said when it is completed, the report on the inspection will go to City Public
Works Director Greg Velazquez and can be made available to the board.
Following Castillo’s operations report, Arreola called on Assistant City Manager Manuel
Chavez to speak to the board about bridge fund reserves for future construction and to
provide an update on work toward a second international bridge.
Chavez said he would have to provide the report on the reserves for future construction at
the board’s next meeting due to time constraints and several members of the staff being
absent.
Chavez then gave a brief report on the city’s continued work toward constructing a
second international bridge.
Chavez told the board, “As I mentioned at the last meeting, the consultant is
recommending to update the traffic report study (for the bridge). We’re still waiting on a
revised quote on that particular study, and once we receive that, we’ll share that with the
bridge board.
“As was recommended, that (study) needs to be updated every two years, and it’s been a
little bit more than that since our last traffic study was completed, and (the consultants
are) still working on the environmental work, and once that’s completed, once the traffic
study is updated, then they can work on submitting the (application for the) presidential
permit. Again, we’re still looking at early next year, probably within the first quarter,”
Chavez said.
There were no questions or comments on Chavez’s report, and the next bridge board
meeting was set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, in council chambers at City Hall.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
