Nuevo Leon, Laredo Seal US$17 Billion Green Corridors Trade Deal

Governor of Nuevo Leon Samuel García signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Laredo Mayor Víctor Treviño and Mitch Carlson, CEO, Green Corridors, to establish a binational framework for developing logistics hubs that will transform cross-border trade.

The agreement sets out joint efforts to coordinate infrastructure planning, facilitate trade, and integrate advanced technology into the Green Corridor's Intelligent Freight Transportation System (IFTS). The project aims to reduce congestion, enhance cargo security, and accelerate customs processes at one of North America’s busiest trade corridors.

“Mayor Treviño has been committed to the Colombia Bridge. Three years ago, we had just 800 crossings; today, we have 10,000, and by 2030, we expect 20,000,” says García.

Laredo is committed to making the Colombia customs facility one of the top US ports of entry, says Treviño.

Multi-Billion Dollar Industrial Investment

Following the signing, the delegation toured by helicopter several major development sites tied to the Green Corridors initiative, including the Talise project, a planned US$8 billion investment spanning 13,000 acres (52.6 km²) north of Laredo at the I-35, US-83, and Texas 255 intersection. They also visited the Gateway Industrial Park, which covers 12.4 km² at I-35 and TX 255 in north Laredo, and the Wisdom Industrial Park, which is located along the TX 255 corridor.

In Mexico, Green Corridors’ logistics operations will be headquartered at the Interpuerto de Salinas Victoria, positioning Nuevo Leon as a hub for nearshoring-driven manufacturing exports. In total, the company plans to invest US$17 billion across these developments.

The TX 255 Corridor will connect the Colombia-Laredo International Bridge directly to I-35 via a 255km intelligent freight viaduct, writes Marco González, Nuevo Leon’s Minister of Regional and Agricultural Development, on LinkedIn. “Three major industrial parks Talise, Gateway, and Wisdom, will be part of this historic mega-investment.”

On June 9, Green Corridors’ IFTS had already secured a Presidential Permit from the White House to build, maintain, and operate a commercial elevated guideway crossing over the Rio Grande, linking Monterrey to Laredo. The privately funded project will use elevated guideways, automated terminals, and autonomous freight shuttles managed by proprietary logistics software.

The system aims to cut export cargo crossing times at the Colombia Bridge to nine to 10 minutes, compared to 30–45 minutes at the World Trade Bridge. It also aims to remove over 1.5 million trucks from roads annually and reduce carbon emissions by 472,623t per year.

If executed on schedule, Green Corridors’ cross-border freight system could be operational by 2031, setting a new benchmark for overland logistics in North America.

“This project represents a paradigm shift in transportation with our largest trading partner. By separating freight from public traffic, we can lower costs and solve congestion and safety challenges,” says Carlson.

The Government of Nuevo Leon and Green Corridors had also signed a MoU to revamp commercial corridors by integrating cutting-edge technologies, aiming to enhance efficiency in cross-border transportation management.  This plan consists of two initial projects: Seaport to Inland Terminal and Land Border Crossing, designed to ease congestion and address security challenges at ports of entry. One flagship project involves the Port of Houston, which expects cargo volumes to rise 75% by 2035. In partnership with the Port of Houston, TxDOT, and Texas A&M University, the Green Corridors Initiative will link seaports to inland terminals, cutting congestion, emissions, and road maintenance costs while improving supply chain resilience and air quality. Projected benefits include removing 1.52 million truck trips annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by 472,623 tons, avoiding the replacement of nearly 124,000 tires, saving 36.9 million gallons of diesel, and cutting fuel costs by US$153.12 million.

Another project focuses on the El Paso–Juarez border, where Green Corridors aim to streamline truck flows, support regional economic growth, and create jobs, with significant expected reductions in emissions, fuel use, and truck traffic, MBN reported. 

Broader Infrastructure Push

In 2024, Nuevo Leon and Laredo’s government signed a MoU, to double the number of lanes at the Colombia Bridge from eight to 16. This plan also aligns with other regional infrastructure investments, including the expansion of the World Trade Bridge and new industrial developments in Tamaulipas, such as the Port of the North in Matamoros. 

On Aug. 13, 2025, Governor of Tamaulipas Américo Villarreal met with Jorge Mendoza, Director General, Banobras, to set guidelines for allocating resources to strategic infrastructure projects in the state. The meeting addressed financing for the expansion of the Puente Tres in Nuevo Laredo.