Feds announce plans to rebuild border fence

ABC 15
March 1, 2011
by Anthony DeWitt

NOGALES, AZ - With immigration issues heating up in Arizona, the federal government has announced that it will begin rebuilding a stretch of border fence in the southern part of our state.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday that construction to replace an estimated 2.8 miles of outdated primary-pedestrian fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border would begin in mid-March.

This border fence is adjacent to the city of Nogales, and when rebuilt will reportedly strengthen the security of the southwest border in the Arizona Tucson Sector.

According to a news release from the CBP, the new project will replace “landing mat” fence originally constructed in 1994 and will be replaced with a new 18-foot “bollard fence” on either side of the DeConcini Land Port of Entry.

Landing mat fencing is 10-foot metal fencing that has become obsolete in recent years, because it easy to cut through with a power saw and it completely blocks views on either side, according to Popular Mechanics . The science publication also reported on Bollard fencing, saying that it features large concrete-filled tubes placed close together. It is common to see a simple version of bollard fencing in front of office buildings and shopping malls.

CBP officials said that the new fence has the potential to deflect immigration in these areas by raising the height of the fence and forming a stronger foundation. The project is scheduled to be completed in September 2011.

CBP has completed a total of approximately 650 miles of pedestrian and vehicle fence along the Southwest Border out of the 652 miles mandated by Congress according to a CBP news release.

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