A new chapter in the history of international trade between Mexico, the United States, and Canada has opened with the inauguration of the Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge in the Dos Laredos region. This infrastructure modernizes and expands railway connectivity, replacing the old bridge that had operated for more than seven decades.
The project, which represents an investment of 100 million dollars, incorporates state-of-the-art technology to streamline the transit of goods and strengthen border security. Notable features include a second track, 1,500 meters of new rails, and advanced inspection systems, such as the scanning of moving freight cars with VACIS X-rays and high-resolution surveillance cameras. Additionally, the bridge is integrated with the Kansas Pacific Railroad's dual customs dispatch system, facilitating the flow of goods along the 32,000 kilometers of railway in North America.
During the inauguration, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo emphasized that the bridge symbolizes cooperation and economic growth among the three countries. "This bridge is a symbol of trade and binational collaboration," declared Sheinbaum. The president also recalled her visit in December 2024 to Nuevo Laredo, when she highlighted the project's importance for the commercial expansion of the region.
For his part, Óscar Del Cueto, president of Kansas City Southern of Mexico (CPKC), pointed out that the new infrastructure will double the cargo capacity of the largest commercial port in North America, allowing for more efficient logistics, including strengthening the cold chain for transporting perishable goods. The mayor of Laredo, Texas, or Port-Laredo as the city is commercially known, Víctor Treviño, highlighted the importance of the bridge in terms of economic integration and cooperation among nations.
"The inauguration of the Canadian Pacific railway bridge is a symbol that we are in favor of bridges and not walls. It represents the trade agreement among the three countries and how goods move from Mexico to the United States and from the United States to Canada," he stated. Ángel Meza, an official from Valdez & Woodward INC, a major logistics company in Laredo, Texas, considered this a tool that will keep Port-Laredo as the number 1 land port in North America, and in a moment awaiting the imposition of tariffs on Mexican products, everyone knows there will be a pause, but trade between Mexico and the United States is unstoppable.
The event was attended by prominent leaders from both countries, such as Keith Creel, president and CEO of CPKC; Deanne Porter, representative from the United States; Óscar Del Cueto, president of CPKC Mexico; Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal, and other officials from the Mexican government.
