U.S. General Services Administration
Donation Project Speeds Processing of Oversized Cargo at GSA’s Santa Teresa LPOE
Santa Teresa, N.M. - Today, General Services Administration (GSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and TPI Mexico, LLC, announced the completion of a small-scale project at the Santa Teresa Land Port of Entry. The project expands the port entrance allowing large cargo to pass through safely and efficiently to improve commercial trade at the port. The new entrance will be available for use beginning Saturday, June 12, 2021.
This marks the first time GSA and CBP have partnered with a private entity through the Donations Acceptance Program. TPI Mexico, LLC, ships oversized wind turbine blades produced in Juarez, Mexico, through the Santa Teresa LPOE. Their largest shipments measure approximately 78 yards long with increasing demand for even larger blades. The oversized cargo is difficult to maneuver through the entrance and has caused congestion, shipping delays and economic strain in the local communities.
“This project not only benefits the commercial interests on both sides of the border, but it also reflects a high level of collaboration and cooperation between the USA and Mexico, and between the public and private sectors,” said Charlie Hart, GSA’s Southern Border Executive. “It truly requires a team effort to enable such a project to reach this stage.”
“The expansion of the infrastructure at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry is critically important to ensuring the facilitation of lawful trade and travel,” said Santa Teresa Port Director Fernando Thome. “These improvements will greatly improve our ability to process oversized cargo in a safe and efficient manner, in effect, positively impacting our country’s economic security.”
Through the partnership, TPI Mexico, LLC, donated the construction services to provide the following improvements at the entrance of the LPOE:
- Expanding the concrete pavement.
- Installing a new gate and chain link fence.
- Relocating a light pole to increase the turn radius through the port.
Although considered a small-scale project, the infrastructure improvements will provide substantial benefits to all traffic and shipments processed through the port.
About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of more than 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $68 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities. For more information, visit: gsa.gov and follow us at @USGSA.