/ Modified dec 19, 2016 6:59 a.m.

Storm Drain Under Port of Entry in Nogales Needs $10 Million Fix

City officials fear the 650-foot tunnel could collapse in the next few years.

DeConcini Port of Entry The DeConcini Port of Entry

The aging storm water tunnel beneath the city of Nogales, extending from the Mexican side of the border, must be replaced before it collapses, Nogales city officials and federal authorities say.

Estimates are that the work will cost up to $10 million.

The 650-foot-long tunnel, which runs beneath the Nogales Port of Entry, was the topic of a meeting last week of the International Water and Border Commission. Engineers on both sides of the border presented their findings.

Commission spokeswoman Lori Kuczmanski said the concern for the structural stability of the tunnel is increasing.

"The port of entry was put there 23 years ago, and basically water has permeated through the concrete so this is being done to prevent further damage,” Kuczmanski said.

The General Services Administration says there is no timeline yet for construction, but officials there said the project is moving forward because while stable for now, the tunnel grows weaker every year.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona