Senator Mark Kelly and Governor Katie Hobbs were among those who visited San Luis for the ceremony

SAN LUIS, Arizona (KECY, KYMA) – Federal, state and local leaders broke ground on the San Luis Port Expansion Project on Tuesday.

It is the first port to begin renovations after the passage of a bipartisan infrastructure law.

The mega-project is expected to cost about $300 million, according to the General Services Administration, and will double the number of vehicle lanes from eight to 16, add four pedestrian lanes, We plan to strengthen our overall technology.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly attended the groundbreaking ceremony and said it took years of hard work to get to this day.

“Given the number of people and vehicles passing through the port, it was clear that a major upgrade was needed,” Kelly said.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, three million vehicles and two million people pass through the port each year, far exceeding the port’s original design capacity.

As Senator Kelly added, modernization will help the port meet current demand and prepare for future growth.

“If more cars, trucks and people could cross the border, it would benefit the economy,” Kelly said.

Recently there have been some reports of delays in returning to the US as construction begins.

Port Authority Director John Schwam said travelers should consider potential delays in their travel plans.

“People coming and going will require some patience, but we will try to mitigate those concerns as much as we can,” Schwam said.

Mayor San Luis Nieves Riedel also urged local residents to wait patiently for construction to begin.

“But ultimately, this is a project that will do great things for our city and future generations,” Riedel said.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs was also in South County for the groundbreaking ceremony.

In his speech, Gov. Hobbs said he was excited about what the port project could do for the future of San Luis, Yuma County and the rest of the state.

“We will continue to carefully evaluate and identify specific needs in each area and tailor our support to those needs,” Hobbs said.

Construction of both phases is expected to be completed by fall 2028.