Just five months after submitting their application, Kansas City Southern’s presidential permit for a second international railroad bridge in Laredo was approved Wednesday. President Donald Trump signed the permit during his visit to Midland, lauding it as a measure to export Texas crude to Mexico.

This new rail bridge will be constructed adjacent and just to the south of the current rail bridge west of downtown Laredo, according to Warren K. Erdman, executive vice president of administration and corporate affairs at KCS.

“On a given day the bridge will serve crossings of anywhere to 23 to 30 trains per day. It is reaching its capacity,” he said.

This second bridge will allow for operation in both directions simultaneously, moving trains out of Laredo faster, Erdman said.

KCS is currently conducting design and engineering studies on the structure, and won’t know the final cost of the project until they’re completed in eight to 12 months’ time. They will concurrently be working to obtain the required construction permits, Erdman said.

The company is hoping the new bridge will be completed in two to three years.

The construction of this second rail bridge is considered the first of two phases to help alleviate traffic in downtown and west Laredo. In the future, KCS is planning to construct a flyover railroad through the city. Rep. Henry Cuellar noted he added language to the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements bill to address blocked rail crossings such as those in Laredo.

Mayor Pete Saenz said that Laredoans will be extremely appreciative when they don’t have to wait as long at train crossings.

KCS applied for this permit March 3 and was approved less than five months later — an extremely fast timeline for a presidential permit award.

Erdman said KCS was not aware that Trump would be signing the permit during his visit to Midland until a few days before, but that they were extremely grateful.

Rep. Henry Cuellar said it was one of the fastest presidential permit approvals he’s ever seen.

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