A severe storm Saturday night forced authorities to temporarily close the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, the busiest U.S.-Mexico commercial crossing in the nation.
The storm collapsed the roof of the Mexican commercial customs facility in Nuevo Laredo, directly across the border from Laredo.
The closure hampered trucks hauling imported goods into the U.S. on Sunday and caused long delays for cargo transporters, Mexican officials said.
“As a result of the heavy rains that occurred at night in the municipality of Nuevo Laredo, at 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, the roof that was under construction in the import area of the Nuevo Laredo Customs collapsed completely, which affects the modulation of merchandise,” Mexico’s National Customs Agency (ANAM) tweeted.
Northbound and southbound cargo trucks that would normally cross the border at the World Trade Bridge were diverted to Laredo’s Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, about 19 miles west of the city.
The storm, which brought 4 inches of rain and produced winds of 80 mph, was blamed for one death in Nuevo Laredo, Mexican authorities said. The World Trade Bridge processes 8,000 to 12,000 cargo vehicles per day.
Authorities on both sides of the border said the World Trade Bridge was open for business by Monday morning. Officials in Mexico were able to clear the debris from the bridge Sunday and set up new booths to process cargo trucks heading north in the U.S.
“The World Trade Bridge is open for northbound and Southbound traffic from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today,” Armando Taboada, assistant director of field operations at the Laredo Field Office, said in an email to trade stakeholders. “The Colombia Solidarity Bridge will only process empties and informal entries today northbound due to Mexico Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM) being closed (Mexico Holiday).”
Cargo truck traffic at the World Trade Bridge and Colombia Solidarity International Bridge was expected to be minimal on Monday, as Sept. 16 is a national holiday in Mexico.
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now