$25M BUILD grant advances World Trade Bridge project
Federal and local officials announced that the city of Laredo has been awarded a $25 million federal BUILD grant to expand the World Trade Bridge, a project expected to increase commercial capacity at the nation's busiest commercial land port of entry and support the flow of nearly 40% of all U.S.-Mexico trade.
The grant, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's BUILD Grant Program, will help fund two additional commercial lanes on the existing bridge and a new northbound span with eight commercial lanes. The project will significantly expand capacity at the World Trade Bridge.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar called the award one of the largest BUILD grants received for the project. He said it builds on years of federal investment in Laredo's international bridge system.
"We're excited," Cuellar said. "This will cement Laredo as the number one port for a long time."
Cuellar said expanding the bridge is only one part of a broader effort to keep freight moving efficiently through …