Plans for Mexican Port Move Forward

The Mexican government is moving forward with plans to solicit and review bids for the construction of a deepwater Pacific port to rival those in Los Angeles and Long Beach.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, the $4 billion-plus seaport project would be one of the largest infrastructure efforts in recent history. Ultimately the goal will be to turn the rustic village of Punta Colonet in the Mexican state of Baja California Norte into a major international cargo hub.

A proposed timetable calls for the port to be complete and ready for cargo in 2014, although the L.A. Times reports that many observers are skeptical of that timetable.

The site selected is about 150 miles south of Tijuana, and the government reportedly envisions that much of the incoming cargo would be bound for the United States.

Reportedly, Mexico’s wealthiest man, Carlos Slim Helu, is considering building a stable of allies to take part in the bidding, as are consortiums from Asia and the United States.

Mexico’s will reportedly have an RFP ready to be released in June, and will then need a year to receive and review responses.

The Punta Colonet project is envisioned as being intermodal, with containers able to be shipped by road or rail once they are offloaded in Mexico.

Mexico is not the only nation vying to upgrade its Pacific Ocean access to compete with Los Angeles-Long Beach. Both Panama and Canada are also investing considerable resources into Pacific ports. The L.A. Times notes.