Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Repairing border fence can be costly

|
|
 
  
A United States Border Patrol vehicle cruises between the primary and secondary fence line on the Tijuana, Mexico border in San Diego, December 20, 2007.(UPI Photo/Earl Cryer) 
Published: July 29, 2011 at 10:50 AM

WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- Most of the debate on a fence between the United States and Mexico is about building it but maintaining it can be costly, federal officials said.

The office of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., announced Thursday that Kellogg Brown & Root of Houston has won a $24.4 million contract for three years to maintain the barrier along Arizona's southern flank, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

The items to be kept in repair include fencing, roads and bridges, electrical systems, drainage ditches and lights. Vegetation has to be kept under control and litter picked up.

Jenny Burke, a spokeswoman for Customs and Border Protection, said the one-year cost of the contract is $7.7 million, with options for two one-year extensions. The three-year cost would be $24.4 million.

Border fencing between Arizona and New Mexico cost between $2.6 million and $7.4 million a mile, the newspaper said.

Arizona shares a 378-mile border with Mexico, with 123 miles of pedestrian fences that are 12-25 feet high and another 183 miles of vehicle barricades.

Topics: Gabrielle Giffords
Recommended Stories
© 2011 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The 84th Academy Awards winners Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin Michigan and Arizona Republican primaries
Radiohead performs in Miami Ice and Snow Festival in China 2012 Governors Dinner
Additional U.S. News Stories
1 of 30
Tornado in Ridgway, Illinois
View Caption
fark
Friday Instashop challenge: The people at Breitbart are saying they'll release footage of Obama...
Thanks to the help of your fellow Farkers, the Quiz lives on. Have fun
And now we present: Awkward Family Pet Photos
Photoshop this media mogul
World Fark Party II - Las Vegas Nevada: March 30 - Apr 1
Groupon offers discount on Dahmer walking tour. Some people have a problem with this because 20...