Laredo Convent Avenue Port of Entry

The Laredo Convent Avenue Port of Entry is located at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge (sometimes referred to as "Bridge I" or "Old Bridge" or "Convent Avenue Bridge").[1] Since 1889, a bridge connected Laredo, Texas with Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas at this location. For many years, this was the only crossing for vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the two cities.

Laredo Convent Avenue Port of Entry
Location
CountryUnited States
Location100 Convent Ave., Laredo, Texas 78040
(Gateway to the Americas International Bridge)
Coordinates27°30′05″N 99°30′27″W
Details
Opened1898
HoursOpen 24 Hours
Exit PortNuevo Laredo
Statistics
2005 Cars1,400,000
2005 Trucks0
Pedestrians1,200,000
Website
www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/tx/2304.xml
U.S. Inspection Station – Laredo, Texas
U.S. Inspection Station-Laredo, Texas
U.S. Inspection Station-Laredo, Texas
MPSU.S. Border Inspection Stations MPS
NRHP reference No.14000600
Added to NRHPSeptember 10, 2014

History
The "Foot and Wagon Bridge" as seen from Convent Avenue in 1899

In 1889, eight years after the first railroad bridge was constructed connecting two cities, the "Foot and Wagon Bridge" was built, enabling pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages to cross the border.[2] This bridge was destroyed by a tornado and subsequent flood in 1905, and again by a mysterious fire in 1920. It was destroyed again by floods in 1932 and 1954.[3] During each reconstruction, temporary pontoon bridges were built to accommodate traffic. The current bridge was completed in 1955. The construction of the Amistad Dam in 1969 has mitigated the effect of subsequent flooding conditions. It wasn't until 1976 that a second bridge was built to further connect the two cities.

The U.S. Inspection Station building that was built in 1943 was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

See also

References
  1. "Gateway to the Americas Bridge – The History of Laredo". Texas Cepartment of Transportation. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. "The History of Laredo". City of Laredo. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  3. Erlichman, Howard J (2006). Camino del Norte: How a Series of Watering Holes, Fords, and Dirt Trails Evolve into Interstate 35 in Texas. ISBN 1-58544-473-1.

Media related to Laredo Convent Avenue Port of Entry at Wikimedia Commons


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