What are actual costs expected to be? Thought the whole thing was to be 11 billion, the emergency declaration only seals fifty miles for 1.3 billion more.
“What are actual costs expected to be? Thought the whole thing was to be 11 billion, the emergency declaration only seals fifty miles for 1.3 billion more.”
The proposed program that came out of the study, was $25 billion over five years, which included 1,100 miles of new or replacement barrier/infrastructure, more people, and several technology programs.
The bottom line is that they will just work down the priority list as whatever money becomes available, because of the political uncertainty of funding.
The Rio Grande Valley in Southern Texas is about the highest priority, in terms of the volume of illegal traffic, but it is also the most difficult and expensive place to build. That is why the money does not go far there.
In addition to the fact that the land is mostly privately owned, construction that could effect floodwaters in the Rio Grande Valley is governed by binding International Treaty with Mexico. The result of that, is that the barrier there mostly does double duty as border barrier and FEMA Hurricane-certified flood control levee - a much more massive construction effort. On top of the levee costs, the high rate of traffic there demands the full suite of technology available (stadium lights, cameras, sensors/alarms). The many private property issues also requires many extra motorized gates.
Costs in the Rio Grande Valley run about $20-25 million per mile - the highest of the whole border. Low technology bollards and patrol road out in flat desert can cost under $5 million per mile.
The converse of the problem of high cost in the Rio Grande Valley, is that if it gets done, everything else is easier and cheaper. As such, it has special value to the Left in keeping the border open long term. It is to some degree the main battle in the struggle to secure the border.