US Awards $324Mln For Construction Of Border Wall In Arizona - Law Enforcement Agency

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) US Barnard Construction Company won more than $320 million for a border wall project in the state of Arizona, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a press release.

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has awarded a contract to construct up to 32 miles of Primary Pedestrian Replacement Wall in Arizona," the release said on Thursday. "Total contract value, including options, is approximately $324 million."

The project, slated to begin next April, will include the construction and installation of upgraded tactical infrastructure including approximately five miles in the Arizona city of Lukeville and approximately 27 miles in the city of Yuma, the release said.

This replacement wall will improve CBP's ability to impede and deny illegal border crossings and drug and human smuggling activities, according to the release.

On Tuesday, the Department of Defense announced it awarded contractor SLSCO a $167.5-million contract for a border wall project in the state of Texas.

In January 2017, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that initiated the process of building a wall on the US-Mexico border. The Trump administration is seeking $5 billion to be budgeted to build the wall but opposition from Democrats could lead to a government shutdown over the issue next month.