El Paso PDN Port of Entry

Border crossing in El Paso, Texas, United States
31°45′00″N 106°29′12″W / 31.749929°N 106.486691°W / 31.749929; -106.486691DetailsOpened1898Phone(915) 872-5700HoursOpen 24 HoursExit PortSanta FeStatistics2006 Cars3,393,0002006 Trucks0Pedestrians6,188,488Website
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/tx/2402.xml

The El Paso Paso del Norte (PDN) Port of Entry is a crossing of the United States–Mexico border, connecting the U.S. city of El Paso, Texas with the Mexican city of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. It is among the busiest border crossings between the two countries: more than 10 million people enter the U.S. from Mexico each year at this location. The PDN Port of Entry is located at the Paso del Norte International Bridge, and is limited to northbound non-commercial traffic, although pedestrians may also cross the bridge in the southbound direction.[1]

Bridges between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez have existed at this location for over 250 years,[2] and they have been rebuilt many times due to floods, expansion, and international treaties. The PDN is sometimes called the Santa Fe bridge, because its predecessor (prior to 1967) emptied traffic onto Santa Fe Street immediately to the west. Approximately 2,000 trains enter the U.S. each year on an adjacent rail bridge. Streetcar traffic also once entered the U.S. on the Paso del Norte Bridge, but that service ended in 1974.[3]

The PDN Port of Entry ranks second only to the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the number of pedestrians entering the U.S. from Mexico each year.

  • El Paso Border Inspection Station, 1902
    El Paso Border Inspection Station, 1902
  • El Paso PDN Port of Entry as seen from the Mexico side, 2019
    El Paso PDN Port of Entry as seen from the Mexico side, 2019
  • Train waiting in Ciudad Juárez just before the Rio Grande waiting to be cleared to enter by CBP into the U.S., 2019
    Train waiting in Ciudad Juárez just before the Rio Grande waiting to be cleared to enter by CBP into the U.S., 2019

References

  1. ^ "Border Crossing Travel Time Study, FINAL Study Report, Volume I: TxDOT El Paso District". RJ RIVERA Associates, Inc. for Texas Department of Transportation, Transportation Planning and Programming Division. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  2. ^ Paul Horgan, Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History. Volume 1, Indians and Spain. Vol. 2, Mexico and the United States. 2 Vols. in 1, 1038 pages - Wesleyan University Press 1991, 4th Reprint, ISBN 0-8195-6251-3
  3. ^ Hayley Kappes, "El Paso trolley revival pitched: Activist has plan for bond issue", El Paso Times, March 9, 2012

See also