Paso del Norte International Bridge, International road bridge between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.
The Paso del Norte International Bridge is a four-lane road bridge over the Rio Grande linking El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. It carries northbound non-commercial vehicle traffic, while pedestrians may cross southbound. The American side is owned and operated by the City of El Paso. It is also known as the Santa Fe Street Bridge and Puente Benito Juárez.
Bridges have crossed the Rio Grande at this spot for over 250 years, rebuilt repeatedly after floods, expansion and treaties. The current span dates from 1967, was renovated in 1991 and expanded in 2009. Its predecessor emptied traffic onto Santa Fe Street, which gave the bridge its Santa Fe name. In March 2019, US Customs and Border Protection erected chainlink fencing and concertina wire beneath it as a holding area for detained migrants.
The bridge's American side is owned and operated by the City of El Paso. Streetcars once crossed it into the United States, a service that ended in 1974. Its alternative name, Santa Fe Street Bridge, comes from its predecessor, which emptied traffic onto Santa Fe Street just west of the current span until 1967.
Expect wait times during peak hours, especially during morning and evening commute times when workers cross regularly. Inspection stations on both sides check documents before allowing passage.
The bridge's American half is owned and operated by the City of El Paso. Streetcars once crossed it into the United States, a service that ended in 1974. About 2,000 trains a year use the adjacent rail bridge, and the crossing ranks second only to San Ysidro in pedestrian entries to the U.S.
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