Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
At the RGV Connect Transportation and Trade session, Marcela Gonzalez, assistant city manager for the City of Donna and executive director of the Donna International Bridge, outlined current operations and expansion plans to increase capacity and improve cross-border movement.
Speaking at the forum organized by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, Gonzalez described the bridge as a key point for passenger traffic and a developing asset for future commercial trade. She said the bridge currently handles passenger vehicles primarily, with additional activity from empty commercial trucks traveling southbound. “Right now, our fleet here is our passenger vehicles,” she said, adding that traffic includes daily commuters and travelers crossing between the United States and Mexico.
Gonzalez said the bridge processes about 62,000 crossings per month, totaling roughly 700,000 annually. She explained that commercial operations are currently limited to empty trucks moving southbound because there are no full inspection and processing facilities. “We are open to empty commercial,” she said, noting that full commercial operations are planned as part of the next phase.
She said the second phase of the project will expand the bridge to handle full commercial traffic in both directions. “That would be our second phase,” Gonzalez said, adding that the project is “ready to go.” The expansion is expected to increase capacity and allow the bridge to play a larger role in regional trade.
Gonzalez emphasized that the project is designed to support long-term growth in cross-border commerce. She said the bridge’s location and planned improvements position it to handle increased freight movement once the expansion is completed.
She also highlighted the importance of connectivity within the region. “Connectivity in the region and the expansion,” she said, identifying it as a top priority. Gonzalez said linking infrastructure between cities and across the border is essential to improving efficiency and supporting economic activity.
The discussion at RGV Connect focused on aligning infrastructure needs across the Rio Grande Valley. Gonzalez’s remarks reflected the role of the Donna International Bridge within that system, particularly as the city works to expand its capacity and integrate with regional transportation corridors.
The RGV Connect forum, led by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, brings together local officials and industry leaders to discuss transportation, trade, and infrastructure priorities. Gonzalez said the bridge’s expansion is part of a larger effort to strengthen the region’s ability to move people and goods across the border efficiently.
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