• 21.8 mile route around Laredo linking I-35 to the major highway to Monterrey, Mexico over the Bridge 3 crossing of the Rio Grande.
• Original plan (opened in October 2000)
- Construction costs of $90m ($75m loan; $15m from local investors)
- Tolls: truck, $16; car, $3
- Forecast was for 1,500 trucks and 300 cars per day, producing $9m in annual revenue
• The Problem
- Actual traffic of 75 trucks/day (though 400-500 cars) and annual revenues of $500K
• Camino Colombia promoters counted on a large increase in Mexican trucks driving straight through into the US, but most traffic continued using the old model whereby customs officials shuttle trailers over the border, where they are picked up by US drivers.
• Truck traffic used Bridge 4 in Laredo, which also linked to I-35, instead. Bridge 4 is closer to motels and truck stops and more convenient for US drivers.
• Resolution
- Camino Colombia sold at foreclosure auction in January 2004 for $12m. TxDOT later acquired CC from the John Hancock Insurance Co. for ~ $20m.
- Tolls today are truck, $8; car $2.
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106 TxDOT, Toll Road News