Laredo, Texas, has received a presidential permit from the White House to commence construction on an international bridge crossing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The permit – a formal authorization required for cross-border infrastructure projects – clears the way for an expansion to the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, which carries traffic over the Rio Grande River between the city of Laredo and Columbia, Nuevo León, Mexico.
The bridge’s expansion project seeks to enhance capacity while reducing congestion on other nearby bridges. Project officials anticipate the new expansion will alleviate traffic, cut emissions and reduce inspection delays.
The proposed bridge expansion would carry two new spans of four-lane traffic. The new lanes would serve commercial traffic at the third-busiest international port of entry in the U.S. Southwest, according to federal officials.
The president’s permit for Laredo includes several provisions and requirements to stay in compliance with federal law. Laredo project officials must provide transparency to the federal government on the project, such as plans to mitigate adverse impacts on people or infrastructure and prior approval to initial construction work.
Laredo city officials anticipate the bridge project will raise the city’s ranking among top port of entry locations in the U.S. and expand international trade and traffic through Texas. The project could also enhance the city’s leadership in international trade and strengthen ties with Mexican leaders, according to city officials.
While no construction timeline has been announced, the bridge project faces several hurdles prior to construction, including an environmental review, additional local municipal approval and diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. federal government and Mexico. Without construction activities, Laredo’s presidential permit will expire after five years.
The permit for the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge marks the fifth the region has received in the last six years, including permits for the Laredo 4/5 International Bridge and the Kansas City Southern International Bridge.
Since 2024, Laredo and other local partners have received three permits to construct on and operate the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, the nearby Green Corridors Intelligent Freight Transportation System and the World Trade Bridge, which was permitted under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Photo by AMAPO at en.wikipedia, Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons
