The Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge ( es, Puente Internacional Nuevo Progreso–Progreso), officially the Weslaco–Progreso International Bridge and also known as the B&P Bridge, is an international bridge over the Rio Grande on the U.S.–Mexico border, connecting the cities of

Progreso, Texas Progreso is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas. The population was 5,507 at the time of the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas. Geography Progreso is located at (26. ...

and Nuevo Progreso,

Río Bravo The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The length of the Rio G ...

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...

. It has been in operation since 1952.

History

The Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge has been in operation at this location since 1952. During the first years of operation the bridge had relatively low crossings of pedestrians, automobile, and commercial traffic. When it opened, it was open 5:00 a.m. to midnight.

Toll Toll may refer to: Transportation * Toll (fee) a fee charged for the use of a road or waterway ** Road pricing, the modern practice of charging for road use ** Road toll (historic), the historic practice of charging for road use ** Shadow toll, ...

s were southbound only. Beginning in the 1970s, an increase in all three categories of crossing was seen. In 1981 Cargill, Inc. constructed a grain elevator here for the exportation of corn and grain to

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

. This exportation of agriculture products continued to grow to the point that four grain elevators are now exporting agriculture products to Mexico (corn, grain sorghum, cotton seed, beans, and popcorn). With the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a substantial increase in commercial traffic in both directions has developed and a new bridge was seen as necessary. From 1993 through the end of 1997, the

Texas Department of Transportation The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT ) is a government agency in the American state of Texas. Though the public face of the agency is generally associated with the construction and maintenance of the state's immense state highway system ...

invested over $10 million in FM 1015, which connects to

US 281 U.S. Route 281 (US 281) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway. At it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route. The highway's northern terminus is at the International Peace Garden, north of Dunseith, North Dakota, at t ...

and I-2/

US 83 U.S. Route 83 (US 83) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that extends in the central United States. Only four other north–south routes are longer: US 1, US 41, US 59, and US 87, while ...

. The

invested over $5 million more in 1998 and in 1999 to provide for five lanes of traffic. The new bridge was completed in 2003 and features broad, covered walkways on each side and four traffic lanes. A truck bridge, located to the East side, is open to remove heavy northbound truck traffic. Bridge traffic has been very substantial over the past decade, both southbound and northbound. Since 2000, about 1.25 million pedestrians cross the bridge each year. Another million cars make the Southbound crossing. Truck and tour bus traffic has also increased steadily. Much of the truck crossing now carries grain, primarily corn for

tortillas A tortilla (, ) is a thin, circular unleavened flatbread originally made from maize hominy meal, and now also from wheat flour. The Aztecs and other Nahuatl speakers called tortillas ''tlaxcalli'' (). First made by the indigenous peoples of M ...

, to Mexico. Very little truck cargo crosses from Mexico, although this is expected to change with the opening of the new truck bridge.

Border crossing

The Progreso Port of Entry was opened in July, 1952, with the completion of the Progreso – Nuevo Progreso International Bridge. The original US Border Inspection Station was replaced by the

General Services Administration The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. gover ...

in 1983, and the bridge itself was rebuilt in 2003. Currently, a $2.00 toll is required when traveling in either direction per vehicle. Pedestrians toll is $1.00 into Mexico, and 30 cents into the United States. Parking is located on both sides of FM 1015 before entering the toll gate.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Progreso - Nuevo Progreso International Bridge Bridges completed in 1952 Buildings and structures in Hidalgo County, Texas International bridges in Texas International bridges in Tamaulipas Toll bridges in Texas Pedestrian bridges in Texas Transportation in Hidalgo County, Texas Road bridges in Texas Toll bridges in Mexico