Source: United States General Services Administration
September 7, 2022
Site will be used to expand and modernize the San Luis I Land Port of Entry
SAN LUIS, Ariz. – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announces the planned closure of the formerly Friendship Park site in preparation for the modernization and expansion construction project at the San Luis I Land Port of Entry (LPOE). Fencing will be installed on September 8 2022 to ensure public safety and allow GSA to proceed with its planned construction for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funded project.
In 2021, the city of San Luis relinquished its use of the Friendship Park site to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) who granted the site to the city. In 2022, the site was transferred from BLM to the General Services Administration in furtherance of the modernization of the San Luis I LPOE. The acquisition provides additional land for improvements and expansion of the existing port. The approximately 6 acre former park land will allow GSA to double the number of northbound vehicle lanes from eight to 16 and install four more pedestrian inspection booths for a total of 14. These improvements will provide the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with necessary infrastructure to increase processing capacity and to reduce traveler wait times.
“We are grateful for the relinquishment of the park to the federal government,” said Region 9 LPOE Program Manager Anthony Kleppe. “With this land now in GSA’s possession, we’re excited about the future transformation of the site into a portion of the modernized and expanded San Luis I Land Port of Entry that will serve the region’s binational community for the coming decades.”
Built in 1984, the San Luis I LPOE is the second busiest non-commercial LPOE in Arizona, processing more than 3 million vehicles and 2.5 million pedestrians each year. Originally, the port processed both commercial and non-commercial traffic. In 2010, commercial operations shifted to a new port referred to as the San Luis II LPOE, located approximately eight miles east of San Luis I.
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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.