Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International
Railway Bridge more than doubles CPKC capacity at the
border
CALGARY,
AB, Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian
Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) said today it has
completed construction of the new international railway bridge
span over the Rio Grande from Laredo,
Texas, to Nuevo Laredo,
Tamaulipas.
"Completion of this internationally important project more than
doubles our capacity to move freight through the border at the
largest international trade port of entry in North America," said Keith Creel, CPKC President and Chief Executive
Officer. "This is an important milestone that keeps Laredo-Nuevo
Laredo at the center of North American trade, allowing the
secure and efficient movement of more imports and exports across
the U.S.-Mexico border.
"By linking expanding markets for our customers, this CPKC
investment will accelerate growth between the industrial heartland
of Mexico and points across
the United States and Canada," Creel added.
Kansas City Southern (KCS) broke ground on the project in late
2022. Built to accommodate growing trade between the United States and its largest trading
partner, Mexico, the rail bridge
now will be known as the Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International
Railway Bridge. Its name honours the last president and chief
executive officer of KCS, Patrick J.
Ottensmeyer, who passed away in July
2024.
"Pat's leadership and vision were instrumental in the
development and successful completion of this project," said Creel.
"His legacy lives on in the work we do at CPKC each and every day,
enabling growing international trade across three great nations –
Canada, the United States and Mexico."
The completion of this US$100
million rail bridge and track work expands the capacity of
the most secure and efficient railway trade corridor between
the United States and Mexico.
Key features of the Ottensmeyer Bridge:
- New second track bridge with total length of 1,170 feet.
- Ballasted deck plate girder bridge built with six reinforced
concrete piers.
- Second track bridge constructed on the right-of-way roughly 35
feet from existing track bridge, allowing trains to operate in both
directions at the same time.
- 4,500 feet of new track.
- Enhanced border security investments, including a new VACIS
X-ray railcar inspection system and surveillance cameras.
The Ottensmeyer bridge is the only railroad bridge crossing the
Rio Grande River linking Laredo
and Nuevo Laredo across the
international border. The U.S. Presidential Permit for construction
of the new bridge span was received in July
2020.
About CPKC
With its global headquarters in
Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line
transnational railway linking Canada, the United
States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from
Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to
Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route
miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North
American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to
key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its
customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services,
logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit
cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC.
CP-IR
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cpkc-completes-construction-of-second-span-of-international-rail-bridge-linking-laredo-texas-and-nuevo-laredo-tamaulipas-302334178.html
SOURCE CPKC