The Santa Teresa international port, once the butt of jokes in El Paso as the road to nowhere, is holding its own amidst stiff competition for border business. Located approximately 8 miles west of El Paso's thriving international crossings, Santa Teresa has been growing faster than many of its detractors have predicted, especially since it still lacks a permanent Customs facility and other amenities taken for granted at the bigger international crossings.
Traffic at New Mexico's newest international port doubled between the first and second year of operation, from 2,214 commercial trucks entering through the port in 1993 to 4,554 trucks entering in 1994. In the past two years, commercial traffic has tripled to over 12,000 commercial trucks using the crossing in fiscal year 1996. Merchandise valued at nearly $55 million crossed through the Santa Teresa port in the first 6 months of 1996.
The frequent closings of the El Paso bridges (see Transportation story, October issue) over the past several months for inspections and repairs are likely to have an even greater impact on those figures in 1997. Two new manufacturers that have located plants in the Santa Teresa industrial park, Karr Tool & Manufacturing Company and Vista Corrugated Inc., will also have a positive impact on usage of the port. The Karr Tool plant, an 80,000 square foot facility, will supply the company's customers in Juarez, Del Rio and Douglas, AZ.
Sources: US Customs, El Paso Times