Check it Out! 8 Border Wall Designs Are Now Lined Up And Ready to be Tested (Video)

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At the border between San Diego California and Tijuana Mexico stand 8 big beautiful border wall prototypes. The new designs are impressive, imposing and they tower anywhere from 18 to 30 feet tall.

Now ready for the next phase, workers will be tasked with trying to figure out how to get up, over, under or through these impressive edifices.

The testing phase will last 30 to 60 days depending on the results and how well each design performs. It is even possible that some elements of more than one design could be combined to create an even more effective deterrent.

Created by 6 different companies, these sensational sentinels stand in stark contrast to what currently suffices as a border fence. Namely, a ridiculous ten foot tall, flimsy metal fence built from leftover Viet Nam era helicopter landing pads. (No I’m not making that up)

Like some sort of comedy or  tragedy, I can’t quite decide which, that sad little metal fence unfortunately does give an accurate representation of what passes for security on most of our southern border.

President Trump has asked Congress for $1.6 billion for the first installment of the wall. It would replace 14 miles (22.4 kilometers) in San Diego and secure a much needed 60 miles (96 kilometers) in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings.

The eight prototypes have gone up near the Otay Mesa port of entry in San Diego, California, just across from Tijuana, Mexico.

The other half are made of “other materials,” including steel.

Each of the prototypes were specifically designed to impede digging and climbing, and withstand breaches, Vitiello said Thursday.

Each of the prototypes were specifically designed to impede digging and climbing, and withstand breaches, Vitiello said Thursday.

Reuters/Jorge Duenes

Two of the prototypes appear to have the “see-through” component Trump has mentioned in several rallies and interviews. The president has explained that the transparency will allow people on the US side to avoid getting hit by “large sacks of drugs” catapulted over the wall.
Two of the prototypes appear to have the "see-through" component Trump has mentioned in several rallies and interviews. The president has explained that the transparency will allow people on the US side to avoid getting hit by "large sacks of drugs" catapulted over the wall.

Reuters/Mike Blake

Each of the prototypes is between 18 and 30 feet high.

“The biggest impression I have is how big they are,” Vitiello told reporters on Thursday.

"The biggest impression I have is how big they are," Vitiello told reporters on Thursday.

Reuters/Jorge Duenes

Construction crews first broke ground on September 26, and wrapped up by the October 26 deadline.

Construction crews first broke ground on September 26, and wrapped up by the October 26 deadline.

Reuters/Jorge Duenes

CBP said the prototypes were designed to “deter illegal border crossings.” Here’s their video of the initial construction phase:

The estimated cost for the eight prototypes is between $2.4 million and $4 million, in total. The Department of Homeland Security has said those funds are being taken from “reprogrammed money” within CBP, and is not part of the down payment funding for the final wall that still has to make it through Congress.

The estimated cost for the eight prototypes is between $2.4 million and $4 million, in total. The Department of Homeland Security has said those funds are being taken from "reprogrammed money" within CBP, and is not part of the down payment funding for the final wall that still has to make it through Congress.

Reuters/Jorge Duenes

CBP must now wait another 30 days for the concrete to set. Then they plan to spend another 30 to 60 days testing the prototypes against breaching equipment, and climbing and digging tools.

CBP must now wait another 30 days for the concrete to set. Then they plan to spend another 30 to 60 days testing the prototypes against breaching equipment, and climbing and digging tools.

Reuters/Mike Blake

After the testing, CBP will take another 30 to 60 days to evaluate all the material and “develop a new standard” for the wall’s design, Vitiello said.

After the testing, CBP will take another 30 to 60 days to evaluate all the material and "develop a new standard" for the wall's design, Vitiello said.

Reuters/Mike Blake

Vitiello told reporters he believes that when barriers such as the border wall prototypes are “effectively resourced,” they work. “Recognize that it isn’t just concrete and steel — we need to have the sensors, the cameras, the patrol roads, and obviously the agents,” he said.

Vitiello told reporters he believes that when barriers such as the border wall prototypes are "effectively resourced," they work. "Recognize that it isn't just concrete and steel — we need to have the sensors, the cameras, the patrol roads, and obviously the agents," he said.

Reuters/Mike Blake

Trump said he plans to inspect the prototypes himself. “I’m gonna go out and look at them personally, and I’m gonna pick the right one,” he said at a rally in Alabama on September 22.

 Fox News contributor, and member of the Trump campaign’s Hispanic advisory council, Steve Cortes provides insight.

Source/photos: Business Insider 

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