Considered the largest port in Mexico and the third largest in Latin America, Manzanillo will play a crucial role in establishing itself as a leading global terminal over the next five years.
To improve road infrastructure, boost Colima’s economic development, and encourage tourism, the Road Logistics Corridor project is underway, with a recent investment of 15.432 billion pesos. This project covers 159 kilometers of road modernization, including highways, roads, and bypasses that will enhance transportation in the state.
“This highway, which includes roads and bypasses, will allow Colima to communicate better with the rest of the country. It is an investment of more than 15 billion pesos… the state hosts Mexico’s main port, Manzanillo, which represents both a challenge and a great opportunity. Development will be ensured in the next five years in road infrastructure, essential for the transportation of goods. As for tourism, more than 90% arrives by road,” said Jorge Padilla Castillo, Deputy Secretary of Tourism of Colima, in an interview with El Economista.
He mentioned that the Guadalajara-Manzanillo highway is crucial for trade, as it facilitates access to the port of Manzanillo from different parts of the country. The modernization of the corridor will not only improve the efficiency of freight and tourism transport but will also promote a safer and more efficient environment for industrial and commercial development in the region.
The characteristics
The state official detailed that the project includes the expansion and modernization of 88.4% of the existing roads, including the Trans-Volcanic Highway, which will be expanded from two to four lanes over 16.5 kilometers, improving connectivity in the mountainous area. Work will also be done on the southern macro-bypass of Colima, with an investment of 5.2 billion pesos to build 28 kilometers of road and make investments in road and drainage infrastructure.
Additionally, the Colima-Armería and Armería-Manzanillo highways will be expanded, with an investment of 5 billion pesos to widen lanes and reconstruct strategic bridges, facilitating vehicle flow. The Manzanillo Bypass will also be expanded, and a second access to the port of Manzanillo will be constructed, with an approximate investment of 1.17 billion pesos, to improve accessibility and logistical efficiency in the region.
“The goal is to facilitate the entry and exit of heavy cargo transport to the city of Manzanillo and the port. Currently, we share the roads with private cars, both local and tourist, as well as with heavy cargo transport. Differentiating the movement of containerized cargo at the entrance to Manzanillo will allow for better vehicle flow and greater safety,” he explained.
The state official detailed that the project includes the expansion and modernization of 88.4% of the existing roads, including major works such as the Trans-Volcanic Highway, which will be expanded from two to four lanes over 16.5 kilometers, improving connectivity in the mountainous area. Work will also be done on the southern macro-bypass of Colima, with an investment of 5.2 billion pesos to build 28 kilometers of road and make investments in road and drainage infrastructure.
Additionally, the Colima-Armería and Armería-Manzanillo highways will be expanded, with an investment of 5 billion pesos to widen lanes and reconstruct strategic bridges, facilitating vehicle flow. The Manzanillo Bypass will also be expanded, and a second access to the port of Manzanillo will be constructed, with an approximate investment of 1.17 billion pesos, to improve accessibility and logistical efficiency in the region.
“The goal is to facilitate the entry and exit of heavy cargo transport to the city of Manzanillo and the port. Currently, we share the roads with private cars, both local and tourist, as well as with heavy cargo transport. Differentiating the movement of containerized cargo at the entrance to Manzanillo will allow for better vehicle flow and greater safety,” he explained.
Light vehicles, without quotas
The undersecretary explained that on these new roads, light vehicles, such as private and tourist vehicles, will not pay tolls, while local cargo trucks will have preferential rates.
“No tolls will be charged to private vehicles or tourists; residents of the state will not pay tolls on the new road sections, where there will be differentiated rates… More than 3,000 of the 8,000 vehicles that travel daily in both directions are heavy cargo. The toll charges will apply only to heavy cargo transport, and special rates will be offered to local heavy cargo transport on certain sections, which will be defined later. It is important to note that there will be no extra cost for tourists,” he stated.
Jorge Padilla Castillo clarified that the recent investment of 15.432 billion pesos comes from public resources of the Government of Mexico, the Administration of the National Port System (Asipona), and public-private partnership schemes. The project is expected to be fully completed by 2026.
Colima foresees a spill of $900 million in Summer
Jorge Padilla Castillo, the Undersecretary of Tourism for Colima, announced that for the summer season, an economic impact of 915 million pesos is expected for the state, with an average hotel occupancy of 60%, and 65% in Manzanillo, the most important destination. The total number of visitors is estimated to reach 166,000.
He recalled that in 2023 they received over half a million visitors and generated an economic impact of 5 billion pesos. This year, thanks to projects such as the Road Logistics Corridor, expectations are optimistic. The main tourists come from Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Querétaro, and Mexico City.
“We want to bring the beaches, Magical Towns, neighborhoods, and all the gastronomic, natural, and cultural wealth of Colima to all these destinations,” he explained.
Padilla Castillo noted that last year, for the first time, the state had a hotel occupancy rate exceeding 50%, and in Manzanillo, it exceeded 55%. “This is a historic figure that reflects a recovery after COVID-19 and a performance surpassing previous best years.”
Currently, Colima offers more than 8,774 rooms, the majority of which are in Manzanillo, followed by the municipalities of Comala, Armería, and Tecomán.
