Construction on the Trump administration’s planned border wall through the Big Bend region could begin within weeks, according to reporting by Marfa Public Radio, as shipments of what appear to be steel bollards have arrived in the area and at least one worker housing site is being developed.
According to Marfa Public Radio, U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues pursuing an approximately 175-mile, 30-foot-tall border wall stretching from Hudspeth County through Jeff Davis and Presidio counties to the western edge of Big Bend Ranch State Park.
In a statement to Marfa Public Radio, a CBP spokesperson said installation of wall panels for two segments — known as “Big Bend 1” in Hudspeth County and “Big Bend 2” from Ruidosa to Presidio and toward the state park — is scheduled to begin in late summer or early fall.
For the Hudspeth County segment, CBP said it has obtained voluntary Rights of Entry for Construction agreements with some landowners, allowing the agency access to private property for surveys, appraisals and initial construction activities.
Marfa Public Radio reported seeing multiple piles of what appeared to be steel bollards stacked inside a gated lot near the entrance to Chispa Road south of Van Horn on June 4. The road has recently been used by border wall contractor Barnard Construction to move equipment toward the Rio Grande.
When asked by Marfa Public Radio whether the site was a staging area for the project, a CBP spokesperson declined to confirm its purpose but said the steel shown in photographs appeared to be border wall panels.
Marfa Public Radio also reported that Hudspeth County rancher Yolanda Alvarado, a vocal opponent of the wall, posted video on social media showing similar steel bollards stacked near an existing border barrier segment near Fort Quitman, an area near the northern edge of the proposed wall route.
The project also appears to be advancing farther south.
Marfa Public Radio reported that Barnard Construction is developing a worker housing facility, commonly called a “man camp,” in Lobo south of Van Horn. During a visit to the site, the station observed a building marked with Barnard’s logo and signage referencing “BBT-3,” shorthand for the Big Bend 3 section of the wall project.
CBP has not publicly provided a construction timeline for the Big Bend 3 segment, which would run through Candelaria and remote stretches of northwestern Presidio County.
The station also reported tensions between Barnard Construction and local officials in Hudspeth County. Advocacy group No Big Bend Wall alleged the company used a remote county road to the Rio Grande without permission, prompting Barnard to seek a special-use permit from county commissioners, who are expected to consider the matter Tuesday.
Marfa Public Radio further reported that the Department of Homeland Security last week awarded a $2.6 billion contract to Fisher Sand & Gravel for border infrastructure east of Big Bend National Park through Brewster, Terrell and Val Verde counties. The contract includes vehicle barriers, surveillance technology and patrol roads across roughly 157 miles.
According to reporting by The Washington Post cited by Marfa Public Radio, border wall-related contracts awarded over the last six months total more than $19.4 billion, with much of the work going to Barnard Construction and Fisher Sand & Gravel. The outlet reported the contracting process has drawn legal scrutiny from a competing builder alleging the federal government failed to provide genuine competitive bidding opportunities.
This story is based on reporting by Marfa Public Radio’s Travis Bubenik, with contributions from Mary Cantrell.
