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Courtesy TxDot,

 (LAREDO, TX) – The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Laredo Colombia Border Safety Inspection Facility (BSIF) was officially inaugurated with a ribbon ceremony on Friday, June 13, 2014 in front of elected officials and guests. The Texas Department of Transportation and City of Laredo collaborated with the Texas Department of Public Safety to make this event a great success.

 Present at the ceremony were U. S., state and local elected officials and agency representatives were Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) Region III Major Juan Rodriguez (Emcee); Father Jose Maria (Chema) Guevara, St. Jude Catholic Church (Invocation); TxDPS Region III Honor Guard (Presentation of Colors) and remarks by Congressman Henry Cuellar, 28^th Texas District; State Representative Richard P. Raymond, District 42; City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas; TxDPS Director Steve McCraw, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Executive Director Lt. General Joe Weber USMC (Ret) and TxDOT Laredo District Administrator Melisa D. Montemayor.

 The Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge was selected as a location for a border state inspection facility because it’s history of being one of the ten busiest and heavily traveled bridges for commercial vehicle traffic along the U.S.-Mexico border.  Last year, this port of entry had 345,831 northbound commercial vehicle crossings making it the 4^th busiest commercial vehicle port in Texas.  In addition, Colombia-Solidarity is the only bridge in Webb County that allows for the transportation of hazardous materials.

  The Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge is the third permanent border state inspection facility to be constructed in Texas as the first two were completed in El Paso.

  This modern, state of the art 23,474 square feet facility sitting on 35 acres of land was constructed at a cost of $15.4 million made possible by federal and state funding of which 83 percent came from federal border infrastructure funding and 17 percent state funds. It was constructed by E. E. Hood & Sons, Inc.

  This inspection facility is operated by the Texas of Public Safety (TxDPS) which has a total of 39 personnel who now call this great facility their home while at work making Texas roadways safe by inspecting many commercial vehicles.  DPS personnel consist of 3 Texas Highway Patrol Sergeants, 7 Troopers, 27 inspectors, and 2 administrative assistants.  This facility has plenty of room for future growth in personnel.

 This facility will streamline state inspections targeting commercial vehicle safety, weight limitations and ensure we meet the DPS operational philosophy and mission to: 

Ø  Ensure public safety

Ø  Prevent premature and unnecessary deterioration of the highway infrastructure; and

Ø  To create an environment that will promote vital and safe commerce in Texas.

This new state of the art inspection facility will allow for the inspection and weighing of commercial vehicles in an efficient manner thereby ensuring public safety while allowing international commerce to thrive.