PHARR – Officials at the Pharr International Bridge announced new hours of operation in an effort to implement temporary pilot programs.

According to a press release, the pilot programs are “designed to relieve congestion, increase truck throughput, and reduce border wait times” at the port of entry.

The new implementations are a result of the lack of Customs and Border Protection personnel along the border.

The change in times is to give commercial traffic priority during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

During those hours, all cars and passengers vehicle lanes will be closed.

Passenger vehicles will only be allowed to travel northbound on Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

The new schedule will remain in effect indefinitely.

Officials released the following schedule that will be applied during this period:

Southbound traffic (to Mexico)

• Hours of service remains the same
• Cars and passenger vehicles
  Monday – Sunday (6 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.)
• Commercial trucks
  Monday – Friday (7 a.m. – 11 p.m.)
  Saturday and Sunday (7 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Northbound traffic (from Mexico)

• Commercial trucks
  Monday – Friday (7 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
  Saturday and Sunday (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
• Small empty trucks and short trucks (no trailers)
  Must travel through car/passenger vehicle lane
  Monday – Friday (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
• Cars and passenger vehicle lane
  Closed Monday – Friday (6 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.)
  Open Saturday and Sunday (4 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.)