San Luis to Widen Cesar Chavez Boulevard Ahead of Port Expansion

City leaders in San Luis announced a major street upgrade to prepare for the expansion of the new port of entry, a project officials say will speed travel to and from downtown. Cesar Chavez Boulevard, an east-west collector that currently carries two lanes of traffic, will be widened to four lanes as part of a construction program with a price tag of more than $60 million.

City officials disclosed the plan earlier this month and set a March start for work that is expected to last two years. The widening is framed as a necessary capacity improvement to move increased vehicle volumes associated with the port expansion and to reduce congestion along the downtown corridor.

“Cesar Chavez Boulevard is a collector's street and it’s only two lanes. It’s going from two to four and truly is going to be able to move the traffic in a more efficient manner,” said City of San Luis, Arizona Mayor Nieves Riedel. The mayor also asked residents for patience as crews begin work. “It is going to cause problems with the traffic. My thing is I would like to ask everybody to be patient with us, it’s a good thing this is a sign that we are growing and this is progress," said Mayor Riedel.

The project will affect daily commutes, local businesses and delivery routes that rely on Cesar Chavez as a primary east-west link. By design, the work aims to accelerate access between downtown San Luis and the new port of entry, which city officials say will bring higher volumes of border traffic once expanded. Residents should expect lane closures, detours and slowed traffic during peak times while crews reconfigure the roadway.

The municipality has not released detailed phasing plans or contractor information with this announcement. City officials urged drivers to use alternate routes during construction and to allow extra time for trips through the downtown area. With a two-year construction horizon, the widening will be a sustained presence in daily life for many commuters and small businesses that depend on consistent traffic flow.

From a governance perspective, the project represents a significant municipal investment in transportation infrastructure tied directly to cross-border trade and regional growth. Oversight of the $60 million-plus program will be a point of attention for taxpayers and civic leaders as the city manages schedules, traffic control and impacts on downtown commerce.

Construction begins in March and is slated to conclude in roughly two years; until then, San Luis residents should plan for disruptions and watch city communications for route changes and timing updates. The widening is a tangible step in preparing local streets for the increased activity the port expansion is expected to generate.