A proposed ban on trucks from using the Bridge of the Americas is stirring tensions between U.S. and Mexico. The U.S. General Services Administration's plan aims to remove commercial vehicles from the bridge, part of a $700 million project.

The plan: Announced in September, the proposal involves upgrading the bridge's infrastructure without accommodating trucks. This would include a new administration building, pedestrian lanes, and improvements for passenger vehicles.

• Three options were considered: restrict truck traffic only during construction, ban it permanently, or allow it with no bridge upgrades.
• The GSA prefers a permanent ban on trucks.

Context: This bridge, one of the two key commercial truck routes connecting El Paso, Texas, to Juarez, Mexico, supports about 500 truck crossings daily. The alternative, the Ysleta-Zaragoza bridge, sees heavier traffic but imposes a toll, unlike the Bridge of the Americas.

• The El Paso City Council backed the truck ban unanimously in September.
• Mexican officials are concerned, with Juarez's mayor sending objections to the U.S. State Department.

"If they close BOTA, we will have to find other ways to send our exports," urged a member of the Mexican Chamber of Industry, highlighting the urgency for more efficient transport solutions.

This action is set to begin in 2026, potentially lasting three years, according to CENLANOW.