Bridge of the Americas (El Paso–Ciudad Juárez)

For the bridge in Panama over the canal, see Bridge of the Americas.
Bridge of the Americas
Puente Río Bravo

The Bridge of the Americas as seen from El Paso, Texas in June 2016.
Carries Fed. 45/ I‑110, pedestrians
Crosses Rio Grande
Loop 375
Locale El Paso–Ciudad Juárez
Official name Puente Internacional Córdova-Las Américas
Other name(s) Cordova Bridge
Named for The Americas
Owner City of El Paso
History
Construction begin 1996
Construction end 1998
Statistics
Toll None

The Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) is a group of international bridges which cross the Rio Grande (Río Bravo) and Texas State Highway Loop 375, connecting the Mexico–United States border cities of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua and El Paso, Texas, via the MX 45 (known as Avenida de las Américas in its Ciudad Juárez section) from the south and the I-110 from the north. The bridge is colloquially known as "Puente Libre" in Ciudad Juárez, officially as "Puente Internacional Córdova-Las Américas" or "Puente Internacional Córdova de las Américas", and also known as "Puente Río Bravo", "Cordova Bridge" and "Free Bridge".[1]

Description

U.S.-bound traffic exiting the bridge in June 2002.

The Bridge of the Americas consists of two bridges, actually four separate structures: two two-lane bridges for truck traffic, northbound and southbound, and two four-lane bridges for passenger vehicles, with two sidewalks for pedestrians.

History

The bridges were constructed from 1996 to 1998. The bridge is owned by the International Boundary and Water Commission, and operated in its American section by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its Mexican section by Mexican Customs.[1] It is only one of five bridges connecting Mexico and the United States from Ciudad Juárez,[2] and to date (i.e. 2015), is the only one that is toll free (hence the name Puente Libre).

See also

References

Coordinates: 31°45′52.81″N 106°27′4.88″W / 31.7646694°N 106.4513556°W / 31.7646694; -106.4513556


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