This holiday season has brought unprecedented traffic to the international bridges between Mexico and the United States, leading to exceedingly long wait times for travelers. The surge is primarily driven by families from northeastern Mexico returning home for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
With the festivities approaching, many are opting for their journeys via these crossings, particularly the International Bridge Number One. Reports indicate the situation has been chaotic, particularly noted before 5:00 AM when the queue reportedly stretched from the bridge all the way to well-known restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken. Other reports noted lines extending to the American lake known as the 'laguito americano.'
Travelers returning home to celebrate with families created more than just the usual holiday busyness. It was observed throughout the week leading to the holiday, as the number of cars surged across the bridges. This situation saw thousands lining up, eager to cross as they planned their family reunions for holiday dinners.
Social media messages from travelers revealed their frustration about the slow movement of the lines, with many highlighting issues at customs checks, especially at the bridge of Piedras Negras. A traveler mentioned, "En la aduana de Piedras Negras hay pocos carriles abiertos, lo que retrasa aún más el cruce hacia territorio mexicano," expressing the dissatisfaction felt by many making the crossing.
Travel experts predicted such high traffic, noting the cultural significance of returning home during this season, as many families cross over to be together for the holidays. "Miles de personas están eligiendo esta frontera para regresar a México y celebrar las fiestas decembrinas en familia, lo que era previsible para esta temporada," one local travel expert explained, emphasizing how the patterns of holiday travel were expected.
Authorities seem aware of these increasing demands on the border crossing system. Despite the continuous flow of travelers, customs operations at these international bridges have been strained, with not enough open lanes to accommodate the volume of cars and pedestrians. With reports describing the situation as being desbordados, local officials are likely considering measures to manage wait times more effectively.
Earlier this week, chaos was reported again at the borders leading to El Paso, Texas, especially from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, where the bridges faced unprecedented levels of traffic snarl-ups. Officials pointed out the long queues observed during peak hours as hundreds more vehicles arrived over time.
By late afternoon, operations had adjusted somewhat, with bridges like Santa Fe, Libre, and Zaragoza experiencing continuous backups. It was confirmed at the time the wait times were estimated to be around 15 minutes for vehicles, but reports hinted this could fluctuate dramatically during peak travel periods.
Travelers are being advised to plan their trips with the potential for long waits and limited processing speeds. Officials continue working to optimize operations at customs; still, these efforts sometimes lag behind the sheer volume of holiday travel.
It seems likely this situation will persist through the New Year as families continue to take to the roads and cross the borders, creating rich stories interlaced with holiday memories. All this excitement, packed with delayed returns, showcases the longing for familial bonds as they navigate both the joys and the frustrations of holiday travel.
