BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Cameron County Commissioners Court is moving ahead with plans to purchase an ownership interest in the Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge Company from Union Pacific Railroad.
Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge Company co-owns Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge with the government of Mexico.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., said a complex negotiation process to acquire ownership began two years ago. He said the transaction is expected to close in late 2025 or early 2026.
“Securing the Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge Company is a transformative moment for Cameron County. We are preserving a vital piece of binational infrastructure and deepening our partnership with Mexico to support binational transportation, commerce, tourism and cultural exchange, which has a tremendously positive impact on Cameron County and the entire Rio Grande Valley,” Treviño said.
Treviño spoke about the negotiations in an interview with Ron Whitlock Reports at the conclusion of this week’s commissioners court meeting. Here is an audio recording of the interview.
The Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge Company was incorporated on August 25 1909, jointly by the Mexican government and St Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway. This company was acquired by Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, which merged with and into Union Pacific. The bridge opened for traffic on December 12, 1910.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino, Jr., and veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock.
Over its lifetime, the structure has been widened twice in 1953 and again in 1992. In 1997, a new four lane concrete toll bridge was added adjacent to the original span. This acquisition, once completed, will complement Cameron County's existing portfolio of three international bridges, all owned and operated by the county's International Bridge system. The three bridges are:
Gateway International Bridge, opened 1926
Free Trade International Bridge at Los Indios, 0pened in 1992
Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomatoes opened 1999
Cameron County Administrator, Pete Sepulveda, Jr., said that following the acquisition, Cameron County will integrate B&M Bridge into its system, ensuring unified management and toll collection for all border crossings in Cameron County.
Sepulveda said Cameron County officials plan to invest in targeted upgrades and streamline operations across all bridges, focusing on enhanced toll collection technologies, improved inspection facilities and expanded customs processing capabilities.
“The knowledge and expertise we possess from operating our three existing bridges will guide the next chapter for the historic B&M Bridge crossing,” Sepulveda said. “Our goal is to streamline the operation of the B&M Bridge, just as we have our other bridges over the course of the last five years.”
Sepulveda added: “We have invested in our bridge crossings to make them among the safest and most technologically advanced international bridges from Brownsville to San Diego, California. “We are very proud of the bridge system we have in place, and the addition of the B&M Bridge is a welcomed addition to our portfolio of international crossings in Cameron County.”
