Contractors have broken ground on eight prototypes for President Trump’s long-promised border wall. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) announced that the companies would have about 30 days to complete construction on their prototypes in San Diego.
“We are committed to securing our border and that includes constructing border walls,” CBP’s acting deputy commissioner Ronald Vitiello said in a statement.
“Our multi-pronged strategy to ensure the safety and security of the American people includes barriers, infrastructure, technology and people. Moving forward with the prototype enables us to continue to incorporate all the tools necessary to secure our border.”
Six contractors from across the country are building the eight prototypes, half of which will be constructed of concrete and the other half of “other materials.” The walls are to range between 18 and 30 feet high and succeed in one prevailing goal: “deter illegal crossings in the area in which they are constructed.”
Construction on 8 wall prototypes began today in San Diego. The prototypes are designed to deter illegal border crossings. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/WB1rIojgLj
— CBP (@CustomsBorder) September 26, 2017
The Department of Homeland Security will test the prototypes once they are completed.
DHS expects to pay the prototype costs (as much as $500,000 each) from funds reallocated internally from other projects. The overall border wall project cost estimate has ranged to as much as $38 billion.
Contractors selected to build the concrete prototypes include Caddell Construction Co (DE), LLC, of Montgomery, Alabama; Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., DBA Fisher Industries, of Tempe, Arizona; Texas Sterling Construction Co., of Houston, Texas; W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company, of Philadelphia, Mississippi.
