The Mexican state of Tamaulipas plans to launch a major expansion of the World Trade Bridge in Nuevo Laredo by the end of 2026, a project designed to increase truck capacity and accelerate freight movement through one of North America's most heavily traveled commercial corridors.

Tamaulipas Secretary of Public Works Pedro Cepeda Anaya said construction on the Puente Internacional Nuevo Laredo III — widely known as the World Trade Bridge — is slated to begin in the second half of 2026, according to a government news release.

The project involves widening the bridge's existing structure from eight to ten lanes and building a parallel eight-lane span. Upon completion, the crossing will offer 18 lanes dedicated exclusively to commercial cargo traffic — more than double its current capacity.

"This will substantially increase the operational capacity of Mexico's principal commercial crossing," the Tamaulipas government stated in its announcement.

Officials did not disclose the estimated project cost or a target completion date.

The World Trade Bridge links Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, with Laredo, Texas, serving as a primary artery for trucks transporting manufactured goods, automotive products, electronics, machinery, and other freight between the two countries. Tamaulipas officials said roughly 50% of Mexico's cargo transportation moves through this crossing.

Cepeda said the added capacity is expected to reduce crossing times, lower logistics costs, and improve competitiveness for companies relying on the corridor.

The expansion arrives as cross-border commerce through Laredo continues to surge. In May, the Laredo port of entry remained the busiest international trade gateway in the United States, handling $36.33 billion in imports and exports — a 19.36% year-over-year increase, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by WorldCity.

Mexico accounted for approximately 97% of Laredo's international trade during the month. The gateway processed $12.09 billion in exports and $24.24 billion in imports.

Overall U.S.–Mexico commerce is also maintaining a strong pace in 2026. Mexico ranked as the United States' largest trading partner in May, with $87.23 billion in two-way trade, representing a 17.06% increase from the same period a year earlier. U.S. exports to Mexico reached $33.05 billion, while imports totaled $54.18 billion. Bilateral trade for the first five months of the year amounted to $404.57 billion.

Laredo first surpassed the Port of Los Angeles as the nation's busiest trade gateway in late 2022 and has retained that position through 2026, reflecting a sustained shift in U.S. commerce toward overland trade with Mexico. That shift has been reinforced by the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), which took effect in 2020, and by ongoing corporate nearshoring initiatives that have relocated manufacturing operations from Asia to Mexico to shorten supply chains and reduce tariff exposure.

Tamaulipas officials said additional capacity at the World Trade Bridge would support manufacturers and other industries dependent on time-sensitive cross-border supply chains. According to Pro Mexico Industry, a report on the project identified the automotive, electronics, manufacturing, and agribusiness sectors as among those poised to benefit from shorter border wait times and increased throughput.

More than doubling cargo-lane capacity at the World Trade Bridge could alleviate a critical bottleneck along the busiest U.S.–Mexico freight corridor at a time when cross-border trade volumes continue to climb.