Contractor makes progress on new border wall in New Mexico

Fort Worth Star Telegram ^ | August 17, 2018 | The Associated Press

[9YearLurker]

But they tested these designs off of input from the border patrol union. And they don’t really work that well. The 18’ ones hardly at all.

[eyedigress]

True statement.

[BeauBo]

“they tested these designs off of input from the border patrol union. And they don’t really work that well. The 18 foot; ones hardly at all.”

The requirements for the barrier come from the Border Patrol, rather than the Union. They are objective functional requirements. Separate testers were used, as we do for military acquisitions (as required in Federal Acquisition Regulations). Because of the politics everyone knows that each step will be scrutinized by the press, looking to find any fault.

18 foot bollards can be free climbed (i.e. without equipment) by fit young men - but they are really tough against digging under or breaching through. With anti-climb plate, you really need ladders or ropes to get over it (or a human ladder of two other guys), unless a joint was improperly left wide when installed.

The can stop a truck from ramming an opening, and withstand several sticks of dynamite. They do effectively stop women and kids from climbing.

[octex]

I’d like to see an area on the US side filled with pyramid shaped concrete blocks about 1 ft. apart and extending about 4 ft. from the base of the fence.

Even if the fence is only 18-20 ft., a fall would cause severe injuries... and food for the buzzards.

[CedarDave]

From last week...

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[BeauBo]

I heard an unofficial report that the 20 miles of new barrier around the Santa Teresa Border Crossing (starting just West of El Paso) is now completely installed - ahead of schedule.

They still have some finish work to do to get the whole job signed off (like finishing the patrol road), but the barrier itself is up.

Work has now started in downtown El Paso, with four more miles going in there (from Fonseca Avenue, West past the Port of Entry). That is scheduled to be done by April.

I expect that project will have incentives and penalties that will have it come in early also.