President Trump has preached his desire for a new wall along the U.S.-Mexico border: Build it “big” and build it “beautiful,” with Mexico footing the bill.
But Trump still does not have the funding from Congress, and Mexico has repeatedly said it will not pay for the wall. However, in last year’s budget, Congress set aside $20 million for prototypes.
Any wall design must meet the following requirements:
Walls need to be at least 18 feet tall, however, 30 feet is considered ideal.
30 FEET
A person should not be able to climb to the top of the wall unassisted. Walls should include anti-climbing features that prevent scaling, even with the use of climbing aids.
Any exposed fixtures need to be on the U.S. side to shield from possible tampering.
The U.S. side of the wall should also be visually pleasing in color, texture, and fit into the general surrounding environment.
No hole larger than a foot can be made through the wall in under an hour of trying with the use of hand-held tools.
1 FOOT
Wall designs must be cost effective to construct, maintain and repair. The designs should also accommodate Border Patrol-approved pedestrian and vehicle sliding gates.
6 FEET
Walls must accommodate surface drainage and also be constructible on slopes of up to 45 percent.
Wall designs must also be able to prevent tunneling from below for at least 6 feet.
30 FEET
Walls need to be at least 18 feet tall, however, 30 feet is considered ideal.
A person should not be able to climb to the top of the wall unassisted. Walls should also include anti-climbing features that prevent scaling, even with the use of climbing aids.
Any exposed fixtures need to be on the U.S. side to shield from possible tampering.
The U.S. side of the wall should also be visually pleasing in color, texture, and fit into the general surrounding environment.
No hole larger than a foot can be made through the wall in under an hour of trying with the use of hand-held tools.
1 FOOT
Wall designs must be cost effective to construct, maintain and repair. The designs should also accommodate Border Patrol-approved pedestrian and vehicle sliding gates.
6 FEET
Wall designs must also be able to prevent tunneling from below for at least 6 feet.
Walls must accommodate surface drainage and also be constructible on slopes of up to 45 percent.
30 FEET
Walls need to be at least 18 feet tall, however, 30 feet is considered ideal.
A person shouldn’t climb to to the top unassisted. Walls should also include anti-climbing features that prevent scaling, even with the use of climbing aids.
Any exposed fixtures need to be on the U.S. side to shield from possible tampering.
The U.S. side of the wall should also be visually pleasing in color, texture, and fit into the general surrounding environment.
No hole larger than a foot can be made through the wall in under an hour of trying with the use of hand-held tools.
1 FOOT
Wall designs must be cost effective to construct, maintain and repair. The designs should also accommodate Border Patrol-approved pedestrian and vehicle sliding gates.
6 FEET
Wall designs must also be able to prevent tunneling from below for at least 6 feet.
Walls must accommodate surface drainage and also be constructible on slopes of up to 45 percent.
30 FEET
Walls need to be at least 18 feet tall, however, 30 feet is considered ideal.
A person should not be able to climb to the top of the wall unassisted. Walls should include anti-climbing features that prevent scaling, even with the use of climbing aids.
Any exposed fixtures need to be on the U.S. side to shield from
possible tampering.
The U.S. side of the wall should also be visually pleasing in color, texture, and fit into the general
surrounding environment.
No hole larger than a foot can be made through the wall in under an hour of trying with the use of hand-held tools.
1 FOOT
Wall designs must be cost effective to construct, maintain and repair. The designs should also accommodate Border Patrol-approved pedestrian and vehicle sliding gates.
6 FEET
Wall designs must also be able to prevent tunneling from below for at least 6 feet.
Walls must accommodate surface drainage and also be constructible on slopes of up to 45 percent.
In a splotch of remote land along the border outside San Diego, six construction companies have built eight border wall prototypes for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
In March, the agency solicited vendors to bid for an opportunity to build the test walls.
UNITED
STATES
MEXICO
Tijuana
San Diego
Test site
Existing
border
fence
MEXICO
UNITED STATES
Tijuana
San Diego
Test site
Existing
border
fence
MEXICO
UNITED STATES
Tijuana
San Diego
Test site
Existing
border
fence
Six companies, based in Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi and Maryland, won contracts to build a prototype with concrete or “alternate materials.” Two of the companies won bids to construct both versions.
Beyond the basic requirements, each company also incorporated unique design elements.
Here are what the designs look like:
Click and drag
to rotate models
Click and drag
to rotate models
Click and drag
to rotate models
Company Fisher Sand & Gravel Co.
Location Tempe, Ariz.
Contract $365,000
What we know This prototype was the only wall built entirely on site. It is painted tan and has a distinct gradual slope to make climbing difficult.
Company KWR Construction Inc.
Location Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Contract $486,411
What we know KWR Construction built its prototype, the most expensive on site, with metal columns spaced apart at the base to help agents see the other side. Metal plates and a round pipe sit at the top of the wall.
Company Texas Sterling Construction Co.
Location Houston
Contract $470,000
What we know Texas Sterling Construction built its wall to differ on each side. The U.S. side used a stamped brick pattern, while the Mexican side has metal grating at the top and is covered in spikes.
Company Caddell Construction Co.
Location Montgomery, Ala.
Contract $320,000
What we know Caddell designed its prototype, the cheapest on site, with a hybrid of metal poles at the bottom, metal plates in the middle and concrete blocks at the top.
Company Caddell Construction Co.
Location Montgomery, Ala.
Contract $344,000
What we know Caddell built a second prototype entirely out of concrete. This design features a wide base that narrows toward the top.
Company ELTA North America
Location Annapolis Junction, Md.
Contract $406,319
What we know ELTA, an Israeli defense contracting company, was the only international contractors to win a bid. The company’s prototype includes a concrete base and a distinctive metal top.
Company W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co.
Location Philadelphia, Miss.
Contract $453,548
What we know Yates built its prototype with a simple design: Three concrete panels topped with a large, round pipe.
Company W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co.
Location Philadelphia, Miss.
Contract $458,103
What we know Yates built a second prototype of dark brown, corrugated metal panels with a round pipe at the top.
What’s next for the wall?
The completed wall sections will need about 30 days for the concrete to cure, followed by 30 to 60 days of testing and evaluation.
With about $3.3 million contracted on the prototypes, the Border Patrol will use what it learned from the test walls toward a final design for the nearly 2,000-mile-long Southwest border.
The agency might consider a final wall that uses a hybrid of different features from the prototypes. Or, there’s a chance it might not use any of the designs it contracted out at all.
There is currently about 705 miles of fencing along the 1,969-mile border
ARIZ.
N.M.
CALIF.
TEXAS
Prototype
construction
area in
San Diego
100 miles
200 miles
Pacific
Ocean
The Rio Grande creates a natural partition along another 1,252 miles
100 miles
CALIFORNIA
ARIZONA
NEW MEXICO
There is currently about 705 miles of fencing along the 1,969-mile border
San Diego
Tucson
Tijuana
El Paso
TEXAS
Prototype
construction
area
Juarez
Nogales
Del Rio
Eagle Pass
100 miles
Pacific
Ocean
Laredo
The Rio Grande creates a natural partition along another 1,252 miles
Nuevo
Laredo
Brownsville
Matamoros
CALIFORNIA
ARIZONA
NEW MEXICO
100 miles
Prototype
construction area
San Diego
There is currently about 705 miles of fencing along the 1,969-mile border
Calexico
Tijuana
Tucson
TEXAS
El Paso
Pacific
Ocean
Juarez
The Rio Grande creates a natural partition along another 1,252 miles
Nogales
Del Rio
Eagle Pass
100 miles
Gulf of
Mexico
Laredo
Nuevo
Laredo
Brownsville
Matamoros
CALIFORNIA
ARIZONA
NEW MEXICO
100 miles
Prototype construction area
San Diego
There is currently about 705 miles of fencing along the 1,969-mile border
Tijuana
Calexico
Tucson
TEXAS
El Paso
Pacific
Ocean
Juarez
The Rio Grande creates a natural partition along another 1,252 miles
Nogales
Del Rio
Eagle
Pass
Laredo
Gulf of
Mexico
Nuevo
Laredo
Brownsville
Matamoros
About this story
Information about the prototype contracts, companies and design requirements provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Contract cost and general information about wall designs from Associated Press reports. Illustrations of the wall designs were reconstructed from published images of the completed prototypes. Photograph of U.S.-Mexico border from REUTERS.
Originally published Oct. 31, 2017.
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