Posted on 10/01/2019 11:11:45 AM PDT by SpeedyInTexas
The Trump administration has awarded three new contracts to build about 65 miles of new border wall across the Rio Grande Valley—the busiest sector for Border Patrol agents.
According to a press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP), the new border wall sections will be built across Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron Counties in Texas.
"The border wall system will include an 18-30 foot tall steel bollard wall, all-weather roads, lighting, enforcement cameras, and other related technology to create a complete enforcement zone," the press release states.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
All NEW miles - where no barriers currently exist.
None of it funded with with DoD money, which has been the subject of lawsuits.
With the other five contracts that have already been awarded in the Rio Grande Valley, about 100 miles are on contract there now - the great bulk of the Sector that had been open - almost all (if not all) of these miles are in areas that had no barrier whatsoever before.
Just getting the Rio Grande Valley done would be a very significant accomplishment. The same with San Diego, or Yuma. President Trump is getting all three done (San Diego in January) - plus hundreds of more miles. And there are still next year’s accomplishments to look forward to as well.
Note that this is Border Wall System, not Levee Wall - construction is much quicker for this kind of barrier.
Also note that it starts right at the Falcon Lake Dam Port of Entry, and continues joining segments of existing barrier. This fundamentally closes down huge open corridors to illegal traffic, with very long continuous runs of Wall System. Very extensive. The Rio Grande Valley Sector will be transformed.
The barrier program is seriously rolling out now, as are the various Technology Programs for the border.
The count is now up to 69 miles completed (as of 30 Sep 19).
We are running about two miles per week, and ramping up to around a mile per day over the next few months, with what is already on contract.
Still waiting for the 11 big projects using the Military Construction money ($3.6 billion more) to be awarded (which will probably require the Supreme Court to rule again). Those contract awards should drop over the next few months.
The three awards announced Sunday, are going to effectively transform the Rio Grande Valley Sector - the biggest open door of them all. The contracts already awarded are going to substantially close that gaping opening, but Congress (Henry Cuellar) has purposely left five small (1-2 mile) gaps, that could be flooded by caravans, if future policy allows it. If the Administration wants to police the Rio Grande Valley though, this much great Wall System will make it possible.
Along with the other five contracts recently awarded there, about a hundred miles will be built. Most of the Valley will then have a continuous top of the line barrier. With eight concurrent contracts, there should be at least eight crews working concurrently, so we should be getting at least two miles per week just in the RGV Sector next year.
I’ve been patrolling the border for over 20 years. Everyone that voted for Trump should be excited and proud about what is happening in regard to border security. My mind gets blown every time I drive down to the border. The unprecedented seriousness in securing the border is unprecedented.
The unprecedented seriousness.......is amazing to behold. Scratch the second unprecedented.
Trump is without a doubt the best president of our lifetimes
Need more wall/fence/barrier. NOW! They can spend the money on that or supporting the trespassers. Vets? Meh!
Thanks for the border wall posts, BeauBo.
Makes it easy to see the big picture that the Fake News doesn’t like reporting on.
“all weather roads and Lightening...! Hell yeah! Oh wait, lighting. Oh well.
Only 65 miles?
Illegal aliens (I am in NY, but not NYC) approach this section of new wall.
“This wasn’t here the last time.” I guess we will have to go around it, but boy am I tired.”
The IA hollers to someone on the U.S. side of the wall/barrier/fence.
“How far is the end of this wall/barrier/fence?”
“Oh, it’s just a partial wall/barrier/fence. You can just walk around either end of it. It’s only 32 1/2 MILES in either direction. You should hurry, because it gets father and father every day.”
“Only 65 miles?”
It is actually a bunch of smaller segments, that were bundled into 3 batches (22, 22, and 21 miles worth) for contractors to bid on.
Each of these new segments are going to connect separately contracted segments, or small existing segments, together into a long continuous barrier.
About 32 additional miles have recently been awarded on 5 separate contracts down there (for massive levee wall system, where flood control considerations require it, vs. these contracts for the less technically challenging normal wall system on the higher ground). Flood levees down there must meet demanding FEMA specifications, because they get hurricanes from the nearby Gulf of Mexico. They are deep and massive, specialized concrete structures, that far fewer contractors could compete for.
So it will be about 97 new miles, plus potential options included in those contracts, plus existing segments. It is going to be essentially a continuous new super barrier, well over 100 miles long - except for the five exceptions written into the appropriations language (each just about a mile or two opening, but covered by new technology and increased Border Patrol presence).
The new stuff is a complete system, not just barrier. It comes with high speed, all weather roads, a 150 foot wide cleared observation area on the South side, stadium lighting, and persistent surveillance with powerful day/night cameras, as well as multiple sensors and alarm systems.
Artificial intelligence software will unblinkingly monitor all the feeds, and automatically slew the cameras and alert the operators to anything detected - close to 100% detection. Very different from the existing hundred miles of heavily vegetated complex terrain.
Jeb! and Dubya must hate this interference with the migration efforts of their preferred citizens.
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