RIO GRANDE CITY – Customs and Border Protection awarded a contract to construct about three miles of a new bollard wall system for Starr County.

The construction is anticipated to begin in August.

This project includes the construction of 18-30 foot tall steel bollards, as well as road construction, detection technology and lighting installation.

Border wall construction will not take place at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, La Lomita Historical Park, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, within or east of the Vista del Mar Ranch tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, or the National Butterfly Center.

According to CBP, this project will improve the RGV sector’s ability to impede and deny illegal border crossings and the drug and human smuggling activities.