Arizona’s senators have asked the United States to investigate whether a cross-border drainage tunnel beneath the Nogales port of entry is in danger of collapsing.
The General Services Administration plans to investigate the drainage tunnel running beneath the downtown Nogales port of entry in early August.
In a letter to the GSA last week, senators John McCain and Jeff Flake wrote: "Any damage or failure of the Grand Tunnel that could close the DeConcini port would have dire consequences for cross-border trade, tourism, and customs enforcement.”
"As you know, it’s monsoon season and storm water flows are a broader regional issue that impact both the port of entry and the city of Nogales," GSA spokeswoman Ashley Nash-Hahn said.
The senators asked for the inspection after learning nobody has checked the aging tunnel’s integrity in several years.
