A number of slabs of concrete that are being used to construct prototypes of President Donald Trump’s promised border wall along the frontier with Mexico were erected on Monday and Tuesday, the federal government announced.
Customs and Border Protection tweeted a number of photographs Tuesday showing 30-foot-high pieces of concrete which were lifted by large cranes along the border that separates San Diego with Tijuana.
‘Progress check: construction of concrete wall prototypes is well underway in San Diego,’ CBP tweeted on Tuesday.
The federal government said last week that contractors began building eight prototypes of Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico, hitting a milestone toward a key campaign pledge.
Construction in San Diego began three months behind schedule after those who didn’t win contracts protested.
A number of slabs of concrete that are being used to construct prototypes of President Donald Trump’s promised border wall along the frontier with Mexico were erected on Monday and Tuesday, the federal government announced
Customs and Border Protection tweeted a number of photographs Tuesday showing 30-foot-high pieces of concrete which were lifted by large cranes along the border that separates San Diego with Tijuana
‘Progress check: construction of concrete wall prototypes is well underway in San Diego,’ CBP tweeted on Tuesday
The federal government said last week that contractors began building eight prototypes of Trump ‘s proposed border wall with Mexico , hitting a milestone toward a key campaign pledge
Construction in San Diego began three months behind schedule after those who didn’t win contracts protested
The building process will last about three more weeks, CBP said.
The agency may pick several winners, or none.
It said in a news release that the prototypes ‘will inform future design standards which will likely continue to evolve to meet the US Border Patrol’s requirements.’
But the agency is also braced for massive protests and is beginning construction under tight security, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
The details of the design remain unclear. Each prototype will be up to 30 feet high and 30 feet long.
One model: This is one version of how Trump’s border wall could look. Construction is now beginning on the prototypes
Bidding documents say four of the prototypes are to be solid concrete and four are to be made of ‘other materials.’
Trump said Friday that the wall should be see-through, appearing to cast doubt on the concrete designs.
The construction site is close to the existing high-security fence which marks the border through San Diego and to the east.
Already there are fears of protests as big as those at the Dakota Access Pipeline last year, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Concrete barriers have been placed at access points to the construction site and chain link fences have been built across open land.
One area could be being designated a ‘free speech zone’ for protesters to congregate, the LA Times said.
Announcing the start of construction, Ronald Vitiello, CBP’s acting deputy commissioner said in a statement: ‘We are committed to securing our border and that includes constructing border walls.
Four of the six private companies that won a national competition to build the designs began work last week
‘Our multi-pronged strategy to ensure the safety and security of the American people includes barriers, infrastructure, technology and people.
‘Moving forward with the prototypes enables us to continue to incorporate all the tools necessary to secure our border.’
The administration faces several federal lawsuits in San Diego that seek to block the prototypes and plans to replace existing barriers in California.
A complaint filed last week by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, largely mirrors two others by environmental advocacy groups that allege the administration overstepped its authority to speed up construction of the wall.
At issue is a 2005 law that gave the Homeland Security secretary broad powers to waive dozens of laws for border barriers, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act.
The lawsuits say that authority has expired.
The administration has not commented directly on the lawsuits but it has issued two waivers since August, the first since 2008, on grounds of national security.
Both waivers are in California, including one that covers the site of prototype construction.
Funding to extend the wall beyond its distance of 654 miles is in doubt.
Democrats have balked at Trump’s $1.6 billion request to replace 14 miles in San Diego and build 60 miles in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings.
Caddell Construction Co. of Montgomery, Alabama, and W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. of Philadelphia, Mississippi, were awarded contracts to build one wall of concrete and one of other materials.
Other contracts for concrete prototypes went to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. of Tempe, Arizona, and Texas Sterling Construction Co. of Houston.
Contracts for prototypes of other materials were awarded to KWR Construction Inc. of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and ELTA North America Inc. of Annapolis Junction, Maryland.