OREANDA-NEWS. Officials from a Texas county lauded the 7 August opening of the first new rail bridge constructed between the US and Mexico in 100 years.

The West Rail bridge links with a six-mile rail line that replaces an existing connection between Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico.

The $120mn facility became operational after 15 years of development, Cameron County, Texas, leaders said. It includes X-Ray scanners called vehicle cargo inspection systems to scan for illegal items on trains.

"Providing this new link to move goods and services more efficiently is going to bring enormous advantages and opportunities to the consumer, the supplier and to markets throughout North America and the world," Cameron County judge Pete Sepulveda said.

The bridge will carry trains moving finished automobiles and parts, commercial vehicles, fuels and telephone equipment, officials said.

It eliminates 14 at-grade rail crossings and will shift rail traffic out of congested areas while decreasing traffic congestion. About $75mn of the investment was on the Mexico side.

Rail's share of US-Mexico freight value increased by 0.8pc in May from May 2014,to 14.7pc of freight value. About $43.8bn in freight moved between the US and Mexico across all modes of transportation in May, with about 15pc going by rail, by dollar value, and 70pc carried by truck, with the remainder moving by vessel, pipeline and airplane.