The President of the United States has granted a permit to the City of Laredo, Texas, to expand and maintain the vehicular crossing at the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge Land Port of Entry. This decision follows an application submitted by the city on November 14, 2024, with additional information provided on February 18, 2025.
The permit allows for the construction of two new four-lane spans for commercial traffic parallel to the existing bridge over the Rio Grande. The expansion is subject to several conditions outlined in a series of articles within the permit.
Article 1 states that all operations must comply with the conditions set forth in this permit and any future amendments. Article 2 requires that federal, state, and local agencies have free access to inspect construction standards and maintenance practices.
According to Article 3, compliance with all applicable federal laws regarding construction and operation is mandatory. Article 4 mandates measures to mitigate environmental impacts and holds Laredo responsible for obtaining necessary permits before beginning construction.
Article 5 requires notification if control or ownership of the facilities changes hands. Article 6 outlines responsibilities related to maintaining rights-of-way and ensuring safe operation.
Under Article 7, Laredo must provide inspection facilities at no cost to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as per Donation Acceptance Agreements (DAAs). Article 8 necessitates approval from relevant authorities before design activities commence.
Article 9 stipulates that concurrence from both U.S. and Mexican boundary commissions is required before starting construction. Additionally, as stated in Article 10, diplomatic exchanges with Mexico must be completed prior to initiating work.
Articles further detail requirements for providing information upon request (Article 11), filing necessary reports (Article 12), obtaining presidential approval for substantial changes (Article 13), commencing construction within five years (Article 14), and clarifying that no legal rights are created by this permit (Article 15).
The document concludes with President Donald J. Trump's signature dated June 13, 2025.
