Calexico, California - Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51) celebrates a major milestone in the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE) project with the passage of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of FY 2015.  The bill, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President, includes $98,062,000 for Phase 1 of the Calexico West LPOE project.

“The funding approved for Phase 1 of the Calexico West LPOE is great news for our region.  The project will generate job creation and economic development in the Imperial Valley,” said Vargas.  “With the help of my bipartisan colleagues from across California and Senators Boxer and Feinstein, we were able to secure this funding to begin a work on a much needed project.”

Passage of the bill will enable the construction of Phase 1, which consists of ten northbound privately-owned vehicle (POV) inspection lanes, a headhouse, and site work necessary to accommodate those facilities on the sloping site.  The next step is to fund Phase 2 that will cover the remainder of the project, including additional site work, a pedestrian processing facility, administrative offices, five southbound POV inspection lanes, and six additional northbound POV inspection lanes.

“Our effort to complete the Calexico West LPOE now focuses on obtaining funding for Phase 2,” said Vargas.  “I will continue collaborating with my colleagues in Congress on a bipartisan basis to secure the necessary funding.  I plan to work locally with community leaders and organizations, to highlight the importance of the completion of this project.”