Economics of Donald Trump’s border wall

The real cost of building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is likely to be substantially more than the $12 billion claim of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to researchers

CALIFORNIA

San Diego

Tijuana

PACIFIC OCEAN

Approximate extent of wall: Trump says U.S. will fund project, then Mexico would reimburse full cost

UNITED STATES

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

El Paso

Ciudad Juárez

MEXICO

Rio Grande Forms natural barrier in east

300km 200 miles

Gulf of Mexico

HOW WALL MIGHT LOOK

Height Anywhere between 30-55ft (9-17m) according to Trump’s statements

Depth Wall could extend up to 15ft (4.5m) below ground to deter shallow tunnelling

40ft (12m) wall shown

Foundation Cast-in-place concrete

Pillars Concrete or steel

ESTIMATED COSTS

Concrete: 9.7 million cubicmetres required – $9 billion

Steel reinforcement 2.3 billion kg – $4.6 billion

Total: Including labour,works out as roughly two to three times cost of materials –up to $40 billion

Precast concrete panels Most likely construction material due to strength and cost-effectiveness. Panels made in factories, transportedto border and lowered into place between pillars

*Assumes wall is 1,000 miles (1,600km) long, 50ft (15m) high, 1ft (30cm) thick and extends 15ft below ground

Sources: MIT Technology Review, Bernstein Research, wire agencies*