CPKC Doubles Freight Capacity with New U.S.-Mexico Rail Bridge

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) has completed a second span of the international rail bridge connecting Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. The $100 million project doubles freight capacity at North America’s busiest trade port, strengthening the railway’s role in U.S.-Mexico commerce.

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“Completion of this internationally important project more than doubles our capacity to move freight through the border at the largest international trade port of entry in North America,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and Chief Executive Officer. “This is an important milestone that keeps Laredo-Nuevo Laredo at the center of North American trade, allowing the secure and efficient movement of more imports and exports across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Construction began in late 2022 under Kansas City Southern (KCS) and continued after its merger with Canadian Pacific in 2023. The bridge honors Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, the late KCS CEO, who passed away in July 2024. Creel said, “Pat’s leadership and vision were instrumental in the development and successful completion of this project.”

Key features of the Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge include a 1,170-foot ballasted deck plate girder structure, six reinforced concrete piers, and 4,500 feet of new track. Enhanced security measures were also installed, such as a VACIS X-ray railcar inspection system.

The bridge allows trains to operate in both directions simultaneously, improving efficiency and connecting markets in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. 

“By linking expanding markets for our customers, this CPKC investment will accelerate growth between the industrial heartland of Mexico and points across the United States and Canada,” Creel added.

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