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Kansas City Southern Breaks Ground on Second U.S.-Mexico Bridge

The new bridge over the Rio Grande at Laredo, Texas, is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Photo Courtesy of Kansas City Southern. 

Kansas City Southern Breaks Ground on Second U.S.-Mexico Bridge

By Railfan & Railroad Staff

LAREDO, Tex. — Kansas City Southern will soon have two bridges over the Rio Grande between the United States and Mexico, relieving congestion at the busy border crossing. On October 31, KCS officials broke ground on a new international railroad bridge that will be built alongside the current one. Officials expect the bridge to be completed by the end of 2024. 

“Today marks the start of construction of a new railroad bridge to meet the needs of North American commerce in the future,” said KCS President and CEO Patrick J. Ottensmeyer. “Upon completion, the second span of the International Bridge will keep Laredo-Nuevo Laredo at the center of North American trade and make this vital USMCA trade corridor safer, more fluid and secure, and relieve traffic congestion in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.”

The new international bridge was approved by the U.S. government in 2020 and is being paid for entirely by KCS. The bridge will be about 35 feet from the existing one and will be about 1,150 feet long. American and Mexican construction crews will start work concurrently on each side of the border, meeting somewhere near the middle. The project also includes upgrades to border security facilities there. 

This article was posted on: November 2, 2022