The Arizona Department of Transportation recently announced that it will move forward with a project to build a road connecting State Route 80 and a new Douglas commercial port of entry. Funding for the project comes from the $20 million allocated to Arizona in the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“This is a win for Arizona,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said. “Cross-border commerce is vital to our state’s economy, and this new infrastructure will bolster trade and strengthen Arizona’s competitiveness.”
The Douglas commercial port of entry began construction in September. Designed for commercial vehicles, it is located in downtown Douglas, several miles west of the current Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry. The facility will expand commercial vehicle inspection capacity to accommodate increased trade and reduce congestion and safety issues. Work is expected to be completed in autumn 2028.
The planned Douglas connector road project will build the four-lane road. Construction is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2027.
“Our ports of entry are critical drivers of Arizona’s economy, and a new commercial port of entry in Douglas will drive even greater cross-border traffic,” U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), said. “Border towns like Douglas can’t be expected to absorb that traffic without the right infrastructure in place.”