View source for World Trade International Bridge

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Short description|Bridge linking the US and Mexico}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name= World Trade International Bridge
|image=
|caption= Laredo International Bridge 4
|official_name= World Trade International Bridge
|also_known_as= Laredo International Bridge 4
|carries= Commercial Vehicles Only<br />'''Highways:'''<br />{{Jct|state=TX|Loop|20}}<br />{{Jct|state=TX|I|69W}}<br />{{Jct|state=TX|US|59}}<br />{{jct|state=TAM|FH|85D}}
|crosses= [[Rio Grande]]
|locale= [[Laredo, Texas]] &ndash;<br /> [[Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas]]
|maint= [[Laredo, Texas|City of Laredo]] <br /> Secretariat of Communication and Transportation
|id=
|design= [[Box girder bridge|Box Girder Bridge]]
|mainspan=
|length= 977 ft (343 m)
|width= 262 ft (80 m)
|clearance=
|below=
|traffic= Commercial:<br /> 3,579
|open= 2000
|closed=
|toll=  Commercial Vehicles<br />$4.75/axle (southbound)<ref name="SouthTollRates">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridgesys/Fees/BridgeFees2.pdf |title=City of Laredo International Bridge System Toll Rates |access-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203194817/http://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridgesys/Fees/BridgeFees2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />60 pesos (northbound)<ref name="NorthTollRates">{{cite web|url=http://pot.capufe.mx/gobmx/Transparencia/Doc/TransparenciaF/Tarifas/Vigentes/Tarifas-VIGENTES-2020.pdf|title=RED PROPIA: TARIFAS VIGENTES 2020|website=[[Caminos y Puentes Federales]]}}</ref>
|coordinates={{coord|27.597291|-99.537119|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}}
}}
The ''' World Trade International Bridge ''' is one of four 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 [[Laredo, Texas|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 4'''.

==History==
The World Trade International Bridge's construction started on September 30, 1998, and the bridge was completed on April 15, 2000. The international bridge was named in honor of a free World Trade market, because international trade is one of the key components to the Laredo / Nuevo Laredo economies. The World Trade International Bridge was built to alleviate traffic congestion in [[Interstate 35 in Texas|Interstate 35]] south through Laredo, Texas since most commercial traffic could only cross through the one lane dedicated to commercial vehicles at [[Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge]] or the further north [[Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge]] in [[Nuevo León]].

==Description==
The World Trade International Bridge is a fourteen-lane bridge. The bridge is {{convert|977|ft|m}} long and {{convert|262|ft|m}} wide. The international bridge is for [[trucking industry|commercial traffic]] only. The bridge is also known as Laredo North, Bridge 4, Laredo IV, Puente Internacional Nuevo Laredo III and Puente del Comercio Mundial Nuevo Laredo III.<ref>{{cite web|author=Texas Department of Transportation (State of Texas) |url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/transportation_planning_and_programming/border_crossings_study/crossings/worldtrade.htm |title=TxDOT Transportation Planning; Border Crossings |publisher=Dot.state.tx.us |access-date=August 19, 2011}}</ref>
<br />
The World Trade International Bridge is Nuevo Laredo's third international bridge and Laredo's fourth since Laredo's third ([[Laredo International Bridge 3]]) is located at the Nuevo León/Texas border.

==Plans==
The [[Laredo, Texas|City of Laredo]] was talking to the Mexican Government about expanding the World Trade International Bridge by adding nine more lanes by 2012, in order to cut down delays of the movement of goods.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}{{needs update|date=December 2022}}

==Location==
This bridge is located at the western termini of [[Interstate 69W]], [[U.S. Route 59]], and [[Texas State Highway Loop 20|Loop 20]] in Laredo, Texas. It is also in north [[Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas]] at the [[Mexican Federal Highway 85D]]'s northern terminus.

==Border crossing==
{{main|Laredo World Trade Port of Entry}}

The Laredo World Trade Port of Entry was built in 2000 in an effort to relieve traffic from the congested downtown Laredo bridges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.txdot.gov/project_information/projects/border_crossing/worldtrade.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528031116/http://www.txdot.gov/project_information/projects/border_crossing/worldtrade.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2010|title=World Trade Bridge|publisher=Texas Department of Transportation|access-date=August 13, 2012}}</ref>  All of Laredo's cross-border commercial vehicle traffic uses this Port of Entry, as the other Laredo bridges prohibit trucks.  Passenger vehicles and pedestrians are not permitted to use this crossing.

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|Transport}}
* {{Portal-inline|Engineering}}
* {{Portal-inline|Mexico}}
* {{Portal-inline|Texas}}
* [[List of international bridges in North America]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040226013715/http://www.laredotexas.gov/bridgesys/bridge4hugecam.htm World Trade International Bridge Webcam (American Side)]
* [http://www.laredotexas.gov/bridge4mexhuge.htm World Trade International Bridge Webcam (Mexican Side)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417115557/http://www.laredotexas.gov/bridge4mexhuge.htm |date=April 17, 2007 }}
* [http://www.lmtonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18322793&BRD=2290&PAG=461&dept_id=569392&rfi=6 Expansion of the World Trade International Bridge]
* [http://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridgesys/Reports/TrafficDist.htm Statistical Data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529170740/http://www.cityoflaredo.com/bridgesys/Reports/TrafficDist.htm |date=May 29, 2007 }}

{{Crossings navbox
|structure       = Crossings
|place           = [[Rio Grande]]
|bridge          = World Trade International Bridge
|bridge signs    = [[File:I-69W (TX).svg|30px]] [[File:US 59.svg|25px]] [[File:Texas Loop 20.svg|25px]] [[File:Carretera federal 85D.svg|25px]]
|upstream        = [[Laredo–Colombia Solidarity International Bridge]]
|upstream signs  = [[File:Texas 255.svg|25px]]
|downstream      = [[Texas Mexican Railway International Bridge]]
|downstream signs = <!-- none -->
}}

{{Laredo International Bridges}}
{{Laredo, Texas}}
{{Nuevo Laredo}}

[[Category:International bridges in Laredo, Texas]]
[[Category:International bridges in Tamaulipas]]
[[Category:Toll bridges in Texas]]
[[Category:Tolled sections of Interstate Highways]]
[[Category:Nuevo Laredo]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Texas]]
[[Category:Toll bridges in Mexico]]
[[Category:Interstate 69]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 59]]
[[Category:Bridges on the Interstate Highway System]]
[[Category:Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System]]
[[Category:Box girder bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 2000]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in Mexico]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in Texas]]