| Gateway to the Americas International Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Gateway to the Americas International Bridge |
| Carries | Pedestrian Non-commercial Vehicles |
| Crosses | Rio Grande |
| Locale | Laredo, Texas – Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas |
| Maintained by | City of Laredo Secretariat of Communication and Transportation |
| Design | Box Girder Bridge |
| Total length | 1012.5 ft |
| Width | 42 ft |
| AADT | Pedestrians: 11,398 Non-commercial: |
| Opening date | 1954 |
| Toll | Southbound / Northbound Pedestrians $0.50 / $0.25 Non-Commercial Vehicles |
| Bridge Location |
 |
| Maps and aerial photos | |
The Gateway to the Americas International Bridge is one of four vehicular international bridges located in the cities of Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, that connect the United States and Mexico over the Rio Grande (Río Bravo). It is owned and operated by City of Laredo and the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (Mexico's federal Secretariat of Communication and Transportation). It is also known as Laredo International Bridge 1. It is a four lane bridge for non-commercial traffic and 2 sidewalks for pedestrians.
Location
This bridge is located in the San Agustin Historical District in downtown Laredo, Texas, and on the northern termini of Mexican Federal Highway 85 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. It operates 24 hours a day.
History
Constructed in the 1880s in a through truss design, the original Laredo International Foot Bridge was destroyed April 28, 1905 by flood resulting from a hurricane. It was repaired and again totally destroyed by flood on September 3, 1932. The city of Laredo and the Mexican government rebuilt the bridge to accommodate vehicles in 1932, surviving 22 years before it was destroyed again by flood in 1954. The current bridge constructed in 1954 has survived flooding with no damage and remains operational. The remains of the 1933 bridge can be seen from the west side pedestrian sidewalk.
External links
Gateway to the Americas Iternational Bridge Webcam (American Side)
Gateway to the Americas Iternational Bridge Webcam (Mexican Side)
Aerial View of Gateway to the Americas International Bridge
Statistical Data
 |
Laredo International Bridges |
|---|---|
| International Bridges |
Gateway to the Americas International Bridge • Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge • Texas-Mexican Railway International Bridge • World Trade International Bridge • Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge • |
| Proposed Bridges |
Laredo International Bridge 5 • Laredo-Colombia International Railway Bridge 3 • Laredo International Railway Bridge 2 |
