Governing details a historic new infrastructure addition across the Rio Grande in Texas. The railroad crossing required a massive coordinated effort—just on the U.S. side of the border.
"Mexico and the United States haven't built a new crossing point for freight trains between the countries for more than a century. That’s about to change in the next few weeks, largely because of the efforts of local governments in South Texas," reports Daniel C. Vock.
The railroad bridge will span the Rio Grande outside of Brownsville, Texas, connecting the southernmost city in Texas to Matamoros, Mexico. The bridge, already mostly constructed, is the result of 15 years of effort by "at least three Brownsville mayors and three county 'judges,' or executives, on the American side, plus more in Mexico…"
The benefits of the new bridge are obvious and extensive: "Diverting freight trains west of the city will eliminate 14 railroad street crossings. The current route takes freight trains through residential areas, along neighborhood parks and through commercial areas…"
The article details the unique finding efforts required on the U.S. side to fund the new route as well the maze of jurisdictions that will monitor the crossing.
Read the full story: The First New Rail Bridge to Mexico in More Than a Century
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