CBP officials announce Laredo Port of Entry wide load truck changes at World Trade Bridge ...

CBP officials issued this statement in regard to handling wide load commercial trucks at the Laredo Port of Entry:

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry at World Trade Bridge are announcing dimensional changes for the processing of trucks hauling wide loads through that commercial crossing from now until further notice.

Effective Wednesday, all wide loads to be processed at the World Trade Bridge will not exceed more than 17 feet wide or 15 feet high. In addition, wide load shipments will be routed for entering into the U.S. through the City of Laredo toll plaza Lane No. 1 (the lane farthest west coming from Mexico) rather than the usual route. Wide load shipments will still utilize the FAST Lane into the U.S. and then queue at the end of the bridge to be escorted by a CBP vehicle through the City of Laredo toll plaza. The crossing of wide loads still remains only between the hours of 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. from Monday to Friday.

Furthermore, wide loads wanting to be processed via the City of Laredo toll plaza at World Trade Bridge must make arrangements with CBP by providing notice of their intention to cross, one day prior to crossing, by calling (956) 794-9430.

Any questions or concerns regarding this change may be addressed at the above listed number or at (956) 794-9419.

Wide load shipments exceeding the listed dimensions must be processed through the Colombia Solidarity Bridge.

The Colombia Solidarity Bridge processes wide loads of any size between the hours of 8 a.m. to midnight from Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays; and from Noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

The change in the processing of these types of shipments through the World Trade Bridge is as a result of the ongoing lane expansion construction project. As soon as processing of wide load shipments can be resumed at World Trade Bridge, a public notice in the form of a news release will be issued.

CBP together with the City of Laredo have been working together to bring to fruition the construction of seven additional primary inspection lanes being built at the World Trade Bridge. The $4.6 million expansion project, which should be completed by this December, will expand the number of primary inspection booths at the World Trade Bridge from 8 to 15 and include other infrastructure improvements. In addition to the seven additional primary inspection booths, the project will include another empty truck inspection lane at secondary express and include an additional exit inspection booth. The World Trade Bridge opened for business on April 15, 2000. This is the first major expansion or infrastructure improvement at the facility in 10 years.

"In an effort to keep commerce flourishing, we maintain open lines of communication and have established procedures to allow trade to move in an uninterrupted manner," said Gene Garza, CBP Port Director, Laredo Port of Entry. "While this is a change to the processing of wide loads, the completion of the construction project at World Trade Bridge is critical to the trade community and CBP."