Gateway to the Americas International Bridge

Infobox_Bridge
bridge_name= Gateway to the Americas International Bridge


caption= View of the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge Mexican side
official_name= Gateway to the Americas International Bridge
also_known_as= Laredo International Bridge 1
carries= Pedestrian
Non-commercial Vehicles
crosses= Rio Grande
locale= Laredo, Texas –
Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
maint= City of Laredo
Secretariat of Communication and Transportation
id=
design= Box Girder Bridge
mainspan=
length= 1050 ft (309 m)
width= 42 ft (12.8 m)
clearance=
below=
traffic= Pedestrians:
11,398
Non-commercial:
2,311
open= 1954
closed=
toll= Southbound / Northbound
[http://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridgesys/Bridge_Fees/BridgeFees2.htm Pedestrians]
$0.50 / $0.25
[http://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridgesys/Bridge_Fees/BridgeFees2.htm Non-Commercial Vehicles]
$3.00 / $2.25
[http://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridgesys/Bridge_Fees/BridgeFees2.htm Commercial Vehicles]
$2.75 per Axle
map_cue= Bridge Location
map_

map_text=
map_width= 160px
coordinates=coord|27.499516|-99.507562|type:landmark_region:US|display=title,inlineThe 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.

Description

The Gateway to the Americas International Bridge is a four-lane bridge with 2 pedestrian walkways and is convert|1050|ft|m long and convert|42|ft|m wide. The bridge is also known as the Convent Street Bridge, Laredo International Bridge, Bridge Number One, Old Bridge, Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Bridge 1, Puente Nuevo Laredo, Puente Laredo I, and Puente Viejo. [ [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/transportation_planning_and_programming/border_crossings_study/crossings/gateway.htm TxDOT Transportation Planning; Border Crossings] ]

Location

This bridge is located in the San Agustin Historical District in Downtown Laredo on the United States Side and on the northern termini of Mexican Federal Highway 85 in downtown Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. It operates 24 hours a day.

History

The original bridge was 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 was constructed in 1954 and operational in 1956 has survived flooding with no damage and remains operational. The city of Laredo purchased the American side of the international bridge for $695,000 in 1946 from a private owner. [ [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/transportation_planning_and_programming/border_crossings_study/crossings/gateway.htm TxDOT Transportation Planning; Border Crossings] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.laredotexas.gov/bridge1huge.htm Gateway to the Americas Iternational Bridge Webcam (American Side)]
* [http://www.laredotexas.gov/bridge1mexhuge.htm Gateway to the Americas Iternational Bridge Webcam (Mexican Side)]
* [http://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridgesys/Reports/TrafficDist.htm Statistical Data]