Cameron County Plans $46.3M Flor de Mayo Bridge
The proposed crossing would link northern Brownsville to Matamoros for passenger vehicles and pedestrians, but not commercial trucks.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Immigration
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Cameron County Regional Mobile Authority is planning the Flor de Mayo International Bridge, a passenger and pedestrian crossing between northern Brownsville and Matamoros. The estimated cost has risen from $25 million in 2018 to $46.3 million.
Why it matters
Traffic at the Valley's international bridges has steadily increased each year, and the project is intended to connect Matamoros' industrial sector to retailers and upscale homes along Alton Gloor Boulevard. The bridge would give Brownsville residents and border commuters an additional crossing point.
The bridge will carry four traffic lanes, two in each direction, plus pedestrian walkways, and will not accommodate commercial trucks. Its estimated cost has risen from $25 million in 2018 to $46.3 million, while the timing of construction remains unannounced.
The players
Cameron County Regional Mobile Authority
The regional transportation agency leading the planning of the Flor de Mayo International Bridge project.
Joe Biden
The former U.S. president who granted Cameron County the presidential permit to construct the bridge in June 2024.
The details
The Cameron County Regional Mobile Authority plans to build the bridge on the northwest side of Brownsville off Farm-to-Market Road 3248. Cameron County submitted its presidential permit application in 2021, and President Biden granted the permit in June 2024.
Timeline
2021: Cameron County submits its presidential permit application for the bridge.
June 2024: President Biden grants the presidential permit.
2029: Construction must begin within five years of the permit's issuance.
2037 to 2040: The bridge is included in the regional transportation master plan timeframe.
Legal Context
International bridge projects along the U.S.-Mexico border require a presidential permit before construction can begin. Cameron County's Flor de Mayo bridge followed that federal pathway, with its application filed in 2021 and granted in June 2024.
Brownsville residents and cross-border commuters would gain a new crossing for passenger vehicles and pedestrians, but not for commercial trucks. The bridge's rising $46.3 million cost could affect how the project is funded and when it is built.
The takeaway
The Flor de Mayo bridge shows how border infrastructure moves from a county planning proposal through federal permitting and into a multi-year construction schedule. Residents tracking the project should watch the 2029 construction deadline and the regional master plan updates.
What happens next
The permit requires construction to begin by 2029, and the regional master plan targets the 2037 to 2040 window for the bridge.
Further reading
For related border coverage, see Immigration news in Brownsville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MySA.
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