Arizona Secures $20M for Douglas Port Connector Road Project

The new road will link State Route 80 to the upcoming Douglas Land Port of Entry for commercial vehicles.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Arizona Department of Transportation will receive $20 million in federal funding to build a new four-lane connector road between State Route 80 and the upcoming Douglas Land Port of Entry. The project aims to streamline commercial truck traffic between the U.S. and Mexico by separating commercial and passenger vehicles at the border crossing.

Why it matters

The new Douglas Land Port of Entry is expected to drive increased cross-border trade and traffic, so the connector road is crucial infrastructure to handle the anticipated growth and improve efficiency and safety at the border crossing.

The details

The connector road project will build a new four-lane roadway along James Ranch Road to link SR 80 to the new Douglas Land Port of Entry facility. It will also add a traffic signal at the SR 80 and James Ranch Road intersection and construct roadway drainage. The connector road project is expected to start in fiscal year 2027.

  • The Douglas Land Port of Entry broke ground in September 2025.
  • The Douglas Land Port of Entry is expected to be finished in fall 2028.
  • The connector road project is expected to start in fiscal year 2027.

The players

Arizona Department of Transportation

The state transportation agency that is overseeing the Douglas port connector road project.

U.S. General Services Administration

The federal agency that is constructing the new Douglas Land Port of Entry as a separate project from the connector road.

Mark Kelly

U.S. Senator from Arizona who helped secure the $20 million in federal funding for the connector road project.

Ruben Gallego

U.S. Senator from Arizona who helped secure the $20 million in federal funding for the connector road project.

Katie Hobbs

Governor of Arizona who praised the connector road project as a "win for Arizona" that will "bolster trade and strengthen Arizona's competitiveness."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Cross-border commerce is vital to our state's economy, and this new infrastructure will bolster trade and strengthen Arizona's competitiveness. I am grateful to Sens. Kelly and Gallego for securing this funding.”

— Katie Hobbs, Governor of Arizona (ktar.com)

“Our ports of entry are critical drivers of Arizona's economy, and a new commercial port of entry in Douglas will drive even greater cross-border traffic. Border towns like Douglas can't be expected to absorb that traffic without the right infrastructure in place.”

— Ruben Gallego, U.S. Senator from Arizona (ktar.com)

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're building a new commercial port in Douglas that will bring more trade and economic development to southern Arizona, while increasing border security. This connector road will help move goods efficiently, reduce congestion and make travel safer for the families and workers who rely on it.”

— Mark Kelly, U.S. Senator from Arizona (ktar.com)

What’s next

The connector road project is expected to start construction in fiscal year 2027, after the Douglas Land Port of Entry facility is completed in fall 2028.

The takeaway

The new Douglas port connector road is a critical piece of infrastructure that will support increased cross-border trade and commerce between the U.S. and Mexico, while also improving traffic flow, safety, and efficiency at the border crossing for both commercial and passenger vehicles.