On December 8, the City of Donna signed a deal that’s going to transform this small Texas border town. CBP, the General Services Administration, and Mayor David Moreno officially authorized $62 million in infrastructure investment at the Donna International Bridge.
This isn’t just a bigger port. This is the “port of the future”—and it’s happening right here in South Texas.
What Actually Changes
Starting in January, construction bids go out. By April, crews break ground. For the next 18 months, Donna becomes a construction zone. But here’s why that matters: when it’s done, the Donna International Bridge becomes a model for how border crossings should work.
The new port includes truck-scanning technology and a single inspection office where commercial customs agents from both the U.S. and Mexico work side by side to ease congestion and reduce wait times on either side of the bridge. No more waiting in line on both sides. One streamlined process. Trucks move faster. Commerce flows smoother.
The Money Flows to Donna
This $62 million doesn’t just disappear into federal budgets. It stays in Donna. Mayor Moreno emphasized that increased commercial truck traffic will catalyze the local economy, generating revenue that can fund street paving, drainage improvements, and enhanced lighting.
Think about what that means: better roads. Better infrastructure. Jobs during construction. Then ongoing jobs once it opens. This is economic development happening at ground level.
Why the Whole Valley Benefits
Donna sits at the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. When commerce moves faster through Donna, it doesn’t just help Donna—it helps McAllen, Pharr, Hidalgo, all of it. The improvements will elevate border security and expand trade capacity while opening new economic opportunities for Donna, the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and global partners.
International trade moves faster. Businesses save money on transportation time. American companies get products from Mexico quicker. Mexican companies export goods to America more efficiently. That’s not just local benefit—that’s economic growth across the entire region.
Why This Took So Long
You might be wondering: if this is so great, why did it take eight years? CBP and GSA accepted the original proposal back in April 2017. That’s a lot of planning, design work, and coordination between government agencies, the City of Donna, and Mexican authorities across the border.
But now the planning phase is over. The design is finalized. The technology is tested. Construction can start. This deal means Donna finally gets to build.
The “Port of the Future” Technology
This isn’t your grandpa’s border crossing. The facility includes nonintrusive inspection technology that lets agents scan trucks without unloading everything. Less time inspecting. More trucks processed. More commerce flowing.
That efficiency matters. Every minute a truck waits at the border costs money. For businesses, it adds up fast. For the border, it reduces the congestion that creates problems.
The Real Impact for You
If you work in logistics, transportation, or international trade in South Texas, this is huge. More truck capacity at Donna means more jobs in those industries. If you live in Donna, you’re about to see your city transform with new infrastructure. If you do business across the border, you’re about to spend less time waiting.
This is one of those rare moments where federal investment, local leadership, and smart infrastructure design actually align. Donna’s Mayor Moreno gets it: this bridge isn’t just a crossing. It’s a global gateway and a corridor that connects communities, drives commerce, and fuels prosperity.
Construction starts in April 2026. By late 2027, Donna opens the port of the future. The Rio Grande Valley gets faster, smarter, more efficient border commerce.
That’s development you can actually see coming.
Timeline: Construction bids January 2026 | Construction starts April 2026 | Expected completion late 2027
