The Nuevo León state government has announced the planned construction of a high-tech freight corridor connecting Monterrey with Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, Texas, one of the busiest trade routes on the continent, using low-emission autonomous cargo vehicles traveling along 250 kilometers of a dedicated elevated viaduct.
Dubbed Green Corridors, it is a joint project of Mexico and the United States, with an investment of US $17 billion. Nuevo León Governor Samuel García said that US $11 billion has been put forward by Mexico.
García said that the viaduct will run parallel to the northern train route and the Monterrey-Laredo highway, providing safe, closed traffic with no blockages.
While he didn’t provide an exact date, he said that construction will start soon, with operations expected to begin by 2030.
Developed by Green Space E-Mobility, the project uses Windrose brand electric tractor-trailers, state-of-the-art units that, according to a statement by the Nuevo León government, offer long-range autonomy, an ultra-fast charging system, high performance and power, reduced operating costs, and lower emissions.
The system will also remove large trucks from public roads and highways.
“All of these features are not only good for the planet, but also an economically beneficial option for companies that choose to transport their goods using this green freight method,” Horacio de la Torre, General Manager of Green Space E-Mobility USA said.
García noted that one particular innovation of this shuttle is that cargo from across Mexico can arrive at a port in Monterrey, where cranes are used to “fish” the containers and load them onto the shuttle vehicles.
“The goal is to save money and deliver your product to Laredo in four hours,” García said. “The container remains sealed until it arrives in Laredo, and the whole service will be monitored with GPS.”
With reports from Expansión
