Mexicans need to be able to get here much faster, US merchants demand
Downtown merchants are worried that their sales will suffer this Christmas shopping season because customers walking over from Juárez are complaining about long waits to cross into El Paso.
Some customers have complained about waiting as long as three to four hours in recent weeks to cross the Paso del Norte Bridge, also known as the Santa Fe bridge, said Jorge Hernandez. He owns Hernandez Fashions, 615 S. El Paso.
“They are frustrated and tired” and are spending less time shopping, Hernandez said. He’s worried it will hurt sales during the important holiday shopping season.
The Central Business Association has seen a recent increase in merchants’ complaints about customers’ bridge waits, said Michael Breitinger, the association’s executive director.
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“Eleven thousand to 14,000 people walk across the bridge each day, and about 60 to 65 percent cross between 6 and 10 a.m.,” Molaski said. “We strive mightily to have all available lanes open” during peak morning hours, he said.
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