The current bridge, which officially opened on April 15, 2000, has eight lanes and is used for commercial traffic only. Stakeholders at today’s meeting would like to see expansion of the bridge infrastructure, with more lanes, including a lane for pre-cleared cargo.

A pre-inspection program would reduce customs processing times and transnational costs by allowing joint export and import inspections of shipments. This would expedite the flow of goods across our border, reduce congestion and enhance the economic competitiveness of both Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.

Congressman Cuellar and representatives from the City of Laredo, the City of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Texas and the U.S. federal government met on Tuesday to discuss a proposed expansion project for World Trade Bridge in Laredo.

“Today’s meeting with stakeholders was important for us to discuss what improvements we should make to the World Trade Bridge,” Congressman Cuellar said. “The Port of Laredo is already a competitive trading area, but by providing the right infrastructure, we can increase international trade, bring more jobs and make our roads and bridges safer. The ideas presented today will go a long way toward enhancing security and relieving congestion and wait times at the bridge. I thank the City of Laredo, the City of Nuevo Laredo, and all our representatives from GSA, CBP, Texas and Tamaulipas for their support towards these goals.”

Jesus Olivares, Laredo City Manager:
"Strategically these enhancements will allow Laredo to remain the preeminent inland port in the United States and provide infrastructure upgrades that will give us an advantage over all other port competitors in being able to process all types of cargo vehicles with even more ease and efficiency. These new projects aim to pre-clear cargo, much the same way we are collaborating at the Airport.  And address logistics movement of containers that may be empty and facilitating the reload process to move more goods, thus increasing the amount of commerce moved through our Bridge System and port," stated Laredo City Manager, Jesus Olivares. 

Pete Saenz, Laredo Mayor:
"It was important to bring together authorities from both the United States and Mexico, at all levels, to discuss these proposed enhancements to our infrastructure at the World Trade Bridge; it is imperative to have all of our stakeholders understand the scope and goal of this project, which in the end will benefit Laredo, Texas and United States and our counterparts in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas and Mexico.  This project proposes to increase capacity to process international commerce, thus mutually growing the regional economy," commented Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz.