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Traffic Delays Expected for Upcoming WBCA Abrazo Ceremony
Customs and Border Protection prepares for annual bridge ceremony in Laredo, Texas
Published on Feb. 20, 2026
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Customs and Border Protection has announced that traffic delays are expected at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo, Texas this weekend as they prepare for the annual WBCA Abrazo Ceremony. The bridge will be temporarily closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. to allow for the construction of the stage used in the ceremony, and drivers are advised to use the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge as an alternate route.
Why it matters
The WBCA Abrazo Ceremony is an annual tradition that celebrates the binational relationship between Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. The temporary bridge closure is necessary to facilitate the ceremony, but will cause disruptions for regular vehicular traffic crossing the border.
The details
Customs and Border Protection will be closing the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. this weekend to allow for the construction of the stage used in the WBCA Abrazo Ceremony. During this time, all south and northbound traffic will be halted. Drivers are advised to use the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge as an alternate route, which will open by 6 a.m. The Gateway to the Americas Bridge will remain open to SENTRI participants and all pedestrian traffic.
- The bridge closure is expected to begin at 5 a.m. on the day of the ceremony.
- Vehicular traffic is expected to resume around 9 a.m. on the day of the ceremony.
The players
Customs and Border Protection
The U.S. federal law enforcement agency responsible for border security and facilitating legal trade and travel at U.S. ports of entry.
WBCA
The Washington's Birthday Celebration Association, an organization that hosts an annual celebration in Laredo, Texas to commemorate the binational relationship between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
What’s next
Drivers are encouraged to monitor border crossing wait times through the CBP's website at https://bwt.cbp.gov/index.html in order to plan their travel accordingly.
The takeaway
The temporary closure of the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge is a necessary step to facilitate the annual WBCA Abrazo Ceremony, which celebrates the longstanding binational relationship between Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. While the closure will cause some disruptions to regular vehicular traffic, the ceremony is an important tradition that highlights the close ties between the two communities.
