Covent Avenue US LOPE Expansion & Modernization

Walter P Moore provided civil, structural, and traffic engineering for the expansion and modernization of the historic land port of entry (LPOE) expansion. Located on Bridge #1, the LPOE is 65+ years old, and is the only pedestrian crossing between the Downtown areas of Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. It is the only historic LPOE in Region 7 and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Privately Owned Vehicles (POV) crossing. Several factors contributed to the expansion and modernization project:

• Substantial increases in pedestrian traffic had been documented and were expected to continue.
• The LPOE pedestrian access did not meet modern standards for handicap accessibility or life safety.
• Additionally, the 5-acre LPOE had site constraints that limited expansion potential for the port without significant reconfiguration. 

Civil engineering services included site roadway geometry design and layout, drainage design to meet EPA Section 438 criteria and gain LEED storm water points, pavement design, perimeter fence security design meeting CBP standards, and utility design including domestic and fire water along with an onsite rain water harvesting cistern. Civil engineering services also included sanitary sewer design and design construction administration.