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Every day, throughout the year, an average of 2,480 vehicles cross from Mexico to the United States and 857 vehicles from the United States to Mexico via the Colombia Bridge, and almost 30% of these are private cars.

For us, the safety of people crossing the Colombia Bridge is very important. Unfortunately, insecurity on all highways in Mexico is a reality, especially on the roads in the northern border strip of the country.

Due to incidents in recent weeks, security corporations are conducting more patrols on the highways from Monterrey to the U.S. border crossings.

Even though the incidence of crime among our users is low, to minimize the risks of being a victim of a crime such as assault or having an accident during your trip, we offer the following recommendations.

Before your trip:

  • Send us an email at promocion@codefront.gob.mx to receive updated information on the security conditions of the roads converging on the Colombia Bridge.
  • If you are traveling from the west or the center of the country and heading north, for example to San Antonio, Texas, you have several alternatives for crossing: Piedras Negras International Bridge (Eagle Pass), Colombia Bridge (Laredo), Juárez Lincoln Bridge in Nuevo Laredo (Laredo), or Anzaldúas Bridge in Reynosa (Mission). Check Google Maps for distances and times from your origin and destination, find out about the security situation at the crossing you plan to use. Recent criminal incidence on the route to a border crossing advises against using it even if it is the shortest route; it will always be better to cross at the safest one, even if it means traveling a few more hours.
  • To travel from Monterrey to the Colombia Bridge, there are three alternatives: the most well-known and traveled is the Federal Highway 85 Monterrey – Nuevo Laredo toll road, on the same Federal Highway 85 there is a free alternative, and finally, there is the State Highway NL001 Monterrey – Colombia. Each one has advantages and disadvantages, research to choose the most convenient one according to your travel plans, you can also contact us by email at promocion@codefront.gob.mx for our updated recommendations.
  • Regardless of the crossing and route you have chosen, plan your trip to travel during the day, avoid traveling at night. If you have to travel before dawn or at dusk, avoid doing so through the border strip on any road. The border strip is the territory between the international dividing line of the north of the country and a parallel line at a distance of 20 kilometers towards the interior of the country; the reference can be the old checkpoint at kilometer 26 on the Federal Highway 85 Monterrey – Nuevo Laredo.
  • If you decide to use the Colombia Bridge to cross, especially plan your route on Federal Highway 2, between the Colombia Bridge and Federal Highway 85, so you can travel it between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Avoid traveling on that stretch at night or in the early morning.

Check this link for a map to know the roads you will be traveling on if you travel from Monterrey to the Colombia Bridge or from the Colombia Bridge to Monterrey: https://goo.gl/maps/yzrjCk2eULxvw1iXA and in this image the last stretch:

  • Make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition for travel and fill up the gas tank before hitting the road. If your vehicle experiences a breakdown during your trip, call 911 for help.
  • Do not wear expensive jewelry or watches, keep your important documents and other valuables well hidden in a safe place inside your vehicle, or better yet, do not bring them on your trip.
  • It is advisable to have a "sacrifice wallet" on hand to hand over in case of an assault, with enough cash to satisfy the assailant and not demand more, $2,000 to $3,000 Mexican Pesos in $100 and $200 bills. And some credit cards or identifications that you can easily cancel and recover.

During your trip:

  • Always drive with your doors locked and windows closed.
  • Respect speed limits; there are permanent operations to penalize vehicles speeding on highways.
  • Use Google Maps or your vehicle's GPS to guide you to your destination and follow the directions, as they are very accurate in terms of distances and transit times. It is recommended to share your location with a family member or friend for added security. Communicate every 30 minutes with your family or friend and let them know if you plan to stop.
  • It is recommended to refuel when leaving Monterrey so that you do not have to stop anywhere until you reach Puente Colombia, consider a travel time of 3 hours from Monterrey to Puente Colombia. Make sure you have enough gasoline so you do not have to stop anywhere until you reach Puente Colombia. At the entrance to Puente Colombia, there is a tourist stop with clean bathrooms and it is safe.
  • On the route from Monterrey to Puente Colombia, the last safer stop before reaching the toll booths on the highway (El Rancho Km 99) is recommended. Make sure you have enough gasoline to avoid stopping anywhere for any reason until you reach Puente Colombia.
  • At Puente Colombia, we offer free Roadside Assistance service within an approximate radius of 10 km from the Bridge, the telephone number is 867 734 0149.
  • On the map, on the stretch of the Federal Highway 2 towards Puente Colombia, marked in yellow, be alert for suspicious vehicles. And be even more alert on the stretch marked in red. Any vehicle without license plates is suspicious.
  • Especially in the red-marked section (Speed trap), respect the speed limits. There are permanent operations by Nuevo Laredo Transit to penalize vehicles that exceed the speed limit. If you are stopped, insist on receiving the ticket; do not engage in bribing the officer, as it is another crime. If pressed for money, offer $500 Pesos and tell them you have to go due to an emergency and are expected elsewhere, and quickly leave the area.
  • In Mexico, vehicles of authorities are clearly identified. If a suspicious vehicle catches up to you and turns on strobe lights, do not stop.
  • Maintain a safe distance from all suspicious vehicles. If you are catching up to a slower suspicious vehicle, prepare to overtake it decisively and be ready for an evasive maneuver if necessary. If a suspicious vehicle is catching up to you, you can increase your speed to leave it behind. If the suspicious vehicle also accelerates, keep calm, turn on your vehicle's hazard lights, and increase your speed to a point where you can maintain safe control of your vehicle. The driver should not be distracted; your safety comes first.
  • Your companion will call 911, the number for emergency calls throughout the country, which can be dialed even if your cellphone has no balance. If you are within 10 km of Puente Colombia, after calling 911, you can call our Emergency Center at the telephone number 867 734 0149 for assistance.
  • BE ALERT as most assailants surprise distracted drivers, box them in, and force them to stop. When a driver is alert, anticipates the assailants' maneuvers, and evades them, this discourages them and they often abandon the pursuit. However, if you do not feel safe driving at high speeds, you can stop; your life and that of your passengers are more valuable than any money that could be stolen.
  • Use your judgment; if the assailants are armed or have blocked the road, stop, do not attempt to take videos or photos, or make a call, as this could worsen the situation and provoke aggression. Do not resist, hand over your sacrifice wallet and stay in your vehicle. If they want to steal your vehicle, give it up and move away from the assailants.
  • If you are a victim of an assault or attempted assault, as soon as you reach a safe place and are calm, make a report of the incident; you can also call 81 2033 9750 or send an email to seguridad@codefront.gob.mx. All information we receive is handled strictly confidentially. With the information you provide, we will inform the authorities and warn other travelers of the danger.

By following these recommendations, you can significantly minimize the risks of having an accident or being assaulted during your road trip to Puente Colombia.

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Download this recommendations in PDF (English Version)

These recommendations are updated whenever it is necessary to do so.