CPKC Completes Second Rail Span Between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo
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CALGARY, AB - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) announced today the completion of the second span of its international railway bridge across the Rio Grande, connecting Laredo, Texas, to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.
"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 CEO. "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."
"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.
The project, which began in late 2022 under Kansas City Southern (KCS), addresses the growing trade between the U.S. and Mexico. The rail bridge is now named the Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge, in honor of KCS's former president and CEO, Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, who passed away in July 2024.
"Pat's leadership and vision were instrumental in the development and successful completion of this project," said Creel. "His legacy lives on in the work we do at CPKC each and every day, enabling growing international trade across three great nations – Canada, the United States, and Mexico."
The US$100 million rail bridge project significantly enhances the most secure and efficient rail corridor between the U.S. and Mexico. Key features include:
- A new 1,170-foot second track bridge.
- Ballasted deck plate girder bridge with six reinforced concrete piers.
- A second bridge constructed about 35 feet from the existing bridge, allowing trains to operate in both directions simultaneously.
- 4,500 feet of new track.
- Enhanced border security, including a new VACIS X-ray railcar inspection system and surveillance cameras.
The Ottensmeyer Bridge is the only railroad bridge crossing the Rio Grande linking Laredo and Nuevo Laredo. The U.S. Presidential Permit for the new bridge span was granted in July 2020.
About CPKC
CPKC, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, is the only transnational railway linking Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Spanning about 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC offers unmatched access to key markets across North America, connecting major ports and providing a suite of freight transportation services. Learn more at cpkcr.com.
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