November 1971. This bridge was both the road and rail connection at Tecun Uman between Mexico and Guatemala. The bridge was built hastily during WWII because of the German and Japanese submarine menace to coastal shipping, and it facilitated rail and highway transport. Prior to the bridge all freight and passengers were ferried across the river. The standard gauge NdeM operated across the bridge into Guatemala where freight was transloaded to the narrow gauge. Passengers could ride a Pullman as far as Tapachula, but between Tapachula and Ayulta on the Mexican side of the border there was only mixed train service. And connecting into Guatemala involved walking across the bridge, with porters available to handle baggage.