World Trade Bridge to reopen Memorial Day

U.S. and Mexican customs authorities hope to provide fully restored operations at the World Trade Bridge border crossing in Laredo, Texas, on Monday, May 29.    U.S. and Mexican customs authorities hope to provide fully restored operations at the World Trade Bridge border crossing in Laredo, Texas, on Monday, May 29. 
   The agencies closed the bridge to truck traffic after a severe storm swept through the area last Sunday afternoon, May 21. The bridge normally handles between 11,000 and 12,000 trucks a day.
   In Nuevo Laredo, the storm tore off building roofs, overturned tractors, soaked computer equipment, knocked out electrical power, and damaged the staff quarters of Mexico Customs. 
   On the Laredo side of the World Trade Bridge, U.S. Customs reported damaged buildings and computer equipment, as well as several damaged truck trailers.
   The customs authorities immediately shifted World Trade Bridge traffic to the nearby Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, which resulted in backups of trucked freight. Both agencies said they needed until Sunday, May 28, to complete the cleanup and make necessary repairs to restore services in the aftermath of the storm.
   On Thursday, May 25, U.S. Customs re-established processing of Free and Secure Trade (FAST) shipments at the World Trade Bridge, with the exception of medical and perishable merchandise. The agency said it’s “working in coordination with partner government agencies to bring online the capability to process these commodities in the near future.”