Vale: Second span, cold storage facility planned for Starr-Camargo Bridge

7 hours ago 21

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – Starr-Camargo Bridge Company Vice President Robert Vale says plans are afoot to build a second span and a cold storage facility at their international bridge.

Vale gave a video interview to the Rio Grande Guardian at the end of a ceremony held to mark the passage into law of the Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act.

Vale said the legislation was needed because the bridge’s previous authorization for construction had expired. He said an extension was required to pursue a planned expansion project that might include a new rail corridor.

Vale said tolls will pay for the expansion at no cost to the taxpayers. He said the bridge does not require a Presidential permit to expand since the bridge predates the 1972 International Bridge Act.

The legislation was steered through Congress by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. His district director for South Texas, Ana Garcia, spoke at the event. So did U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who championed the legislation in the House of Representatives.

“In 2023, Mexico ranked first among all U.S. trading partners, with $798.8 billion in total trade in goods. The Starr-Camargo Bridge facilitates hundreds of millions of dollars of this cross-border trade and serves as a crucial connector between South Texas and Mexico,” Cuellar said.

“The expansion project will ease congestion, reduce truck idling at the port of entry, and help alleviate supply chain issues. I would like to thank the Starr-Camargo Bridge Company President Sam Vale and Chief Operating Officer Robert A. Vale for hosting this celebration and am grateful to Mayor Falcon for his work on this project. I would also like to thank Senator Cornyn and Senator Cruz for their leadership and help in passing the legislation that made this project possible.”

The Starr-Camargo Bridge is a privately owned toll bridge. It was founded by A.J. Vale, Robert Vale’s grandfather. Robert’s father, Sam Vale, a leading light in the Border Trade Alliance, is president of the Starr-Camargo Bridge Company.