Mayor touts second bridge

By Karen Gleason

The 830 Times

Mayor Al Arreola told bridge board members again a second international bridge is needed to help kick start progress in Del Rio over the next decade.

Arreola made his comments at the start of the December meeting of the city’s International Bridge Board at City Hall.

“I think we’re proceeding in the right direction. We’re still on the planning stages, but we did have a meeting with the Mexican government officials in regard to our second bridge. TxDOT was in town, and I think it was very educational for all of us,” Arreola told the board and audience members.

Arreola said he believes Mexico “is a little bit ahead, but we’re progressing,” adding the bridge board is an important facet in bringing the new bridge to fruition.

“I think – and I apologize, I think one of you guys should have been there (at the meeting) – that we are no longer wishing and dreaming. Now it’s a reality, and we’ve got to step up. Where we do it (place the second bridge and its access routes) and where we set our course, it’s going to be a benefit to our community,” the mayor said.

He emphasized the city is working to hurt as few citizens as possible with the bridge construction.

“So, to me, like I said, working with TxDOT and the visionary people that were here to see that we’re continuing with that vision, so hopefully everybody in our community comes on board for this progress,” Arreola said.

Arreola briefly spoke about the immigrant crisis enveloping Eagle Pass and said Del Rio stands ready to help, just as Eagle Pass offered its help when Del Rio experienced its Haitian migrant situation under the international bridge.

“Eagle Pass has a blessing; they have two bridges, and we don’t. We only have one. I think if we had the second structure, we can combat anything that hits us, but at this point we are still just in the negotiation stages, but it looks very favorable. Hopefully by mid-February, mid-March, we’ll have something settled to present to our citizens,” Arreola finished.

Board member Frank Mendoza then told the board with its permission, he would like to work with the 830 Times, the Texas Times and the Zocalo in Ciudad Acuña “to put information out (about the second bridge project), and I’ll assume responsibility for it.”

“I want to let the people of the community know what’s going on, what’s happening, with factual information,” Mendoza said.

Arreola replied the city is trying to supply as much factual information as possible, but added, “I think everybody out there is coming up with their own conclusions as to what’s happening on this particular site of the second bridge. There are some rumors that are spreading out there, but our focus is to continue on the vision of communication and information to our citizens and make sure that everybody sees the picture of growth for five to 10 years from now. This not going to happen overnight.”

He said the city’s planned second bridge will become even more important as the Ports-to-Plains corridor becomes a reality.

Reach the author of this story at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com