The Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge: A New Era for North American Trade

On February 6, 2025, a ribbon-cutting ceremony over the Rio Grande marked the official opening of the Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge, a monumental achievement for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). This $100 million infrastructure project, connecting Laredo, Texas, to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, represents more than just a new railway span—it’s a tribute to a visionary leader and a bold step forward in enhancing trade across North America.

A Bridge Named for a Legacy

The bridge bears the name of Patrick J. Ottensmeyer, the former president and CEO of Kansas City Southern (KCS), who passed away in July 2024. Ottensmeyer’s tenure from 2015 to 2023 was defined by his unwavering commitment to strengthening rail connectivity and fostering economic ties between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. His leadership laid the groundwork for the merger of KCS with Canadian Pacific in April 2023, creating CPKC—the first single-line railway spanning all three North American nations. Keith Creel, CPKC’s current president and CEO, praised Ottensmeyer’s vision, noting that naming the bridge after him honors his enduring impact on the railroad industry and cross-border commerce.

Ottensmeyer was a towering figure in the rail world, recognized with accolades like the North American Rail Shippers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 and Railway Age’s Railroader of the Year title in both 2020 and 2022. His advocacy for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) during its formation underscored his belief in the power of integrated trade networks—a belief now physically embodied in this new bridge.

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Engineering a Trade Revolution

Spanning 1,170 feet across the Rio Grande, the Patrick J. Ottensmeyer Bridge is a marvel of modern engineering. Constructed just 35 feet from the existing single-track bridge, which dates back to 1920, this new double-track structure eliminates a long-standing bottleneck at the U.S.-Mexico border. Before its completion, trains crossing between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo were limited to alternating four-hour directional windows, capping daily capacity at around 26 trains. The new bridge, with its ballasted deck plate girder design supported by six reinforced concrete piers, allows simultaneous two-way traffic, more than doubling CPKC’s capacity at this critical trade gateway.

The project, which broke ground in late 2022 under KCS and was completed by CPKC in December 2024, also includes 4,500 feet of new track and advanced security features. A state-of-the-art VACIS X-ray railcar inspection system and surveillance cameras enhance border security, ensuring the efficient and safe movement of goods. This is no small feat for a crossing that serves as North America’s busiest inland trade port and the sole rail link between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.

Boosting North American Commerce

The timing of the bridge’s opening couldn’t be more significant. As U.S.-Mexico trade continues to grow—Mexico remains the United States’ largest trading partner—the demand for reliable, high-capacity rail infrastructure has never been higher. The Laredo-Nuevo Laredo corridor is a vital artery for goods like U.S. grain, particularly corn, which flows south to Mexico in vast quantities. By doubling capacity and streamlining operations, the Ottensmeyer Bridge positions CPKC to meet this demand head-on, offering truck-competitive rail service that’s both secure and efficient.

Beyond economics, the bridge symbolizes a broader commitment to connectivity over division. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, speaking at an event in Nuevo Laredo shortly after the opening, hailed it as “a symbol of bridges, not walls,” emphasizing its role in strengthening ties between the three USMCA nations. For CPKC, which now operates a 20,000-mile network employing 20,000 railroaders, the bridge is a cornerstone of its mission to link expanding markets from Canada’s Atlantic ports to Mexico’s industrial heartland.

A Lasting Impact

The Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge is more than an infrastructure upgrade—it’s a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and innovation. Completed with a U.S. Presidential Permit secured in July 2020, the project reflects years of planning and execution, much of it driven by Ottensmeyer’s foresight. As trains now glide across the Rio Grande in both directions simultaneously, they carry forward his legacy, enabling the seamless flow of goods that fuels North American prosperity.

For CPKC and the communities it serves, this bridge is a promise fulfilled: a stronger, more connected future where trade knows no borders. As Creel put it, Ottensmeyer’s name will forever echo in the history of North American rail—a fitting tribute to a leader who saw bridges not just as steel and concrete, but as pathways to progress.