Upcoming improvements worth $6B to be made on 10 major Mexican highways
In a significant development, the Mexican Transportation Ministry (SICT) has unveiled a scaled highway improvement plan, investing over 112 billion pesos (approximately $6 billion) over the next five years. The project, spearheaded by SICT's director of highways, Carlos Arceo, is focusing on quality repairs and benefits to regional connectivity, contrasting with an earlier ambitious plan announced by President Claudia Sheinbaum targeting 4,000 km of highway upgrades.
The plan encompasses more than 2,220 kilometers (1,367 miles) of repairs and upgrades across 14 states, from Sonora and Chihuahua in the north to Tabasco and Campeche in the south. This includes 10 major federal expressways that will undergo significant improvements this year.
One of the key projects is the Tepic-Compostela highway in Nayarit, which is nearing completion. Reaching 87% completion, the 26-kilometer, four-lane highway is expected to be fully delivered by October 31, 2025. The project features 10 bridges, railroad crossings, a toll plaza, and side shoulders to improve safety and efficiency. It also includes a 2.4 km branch connecting to the Tepic-Riviera Nayarit International Airport, supporting tourism and commerce in the region.
Other improvements include the widening of the heavily utilized Highway 57 in Coahuila from Saltillo to Monclova, and the completion of two key sections of the Tierra y Libertad highway in Morelos by the end of the month. Both highways will be widened from 7 meters to 12 meters.
Upgrades involving bridges and interchanges totaling 16.3 km across nine states are also part of the broader highway improvement efforts. The modernization efforts on the Palmillas – Apaseo Highway northwest of Mexico City involve advanced Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology installations, enhancing safety and traffic management.
Arceo emphasized that the project is aimed at building roads to close the inequality gap, and not just thinking about the road itself but about the benefits it will bring to communities. He stated that the focus should be on knowing where to invest to achieve the greatest possible impact with fewer resources.
Environmental impact assessments are underway for the Toluca-Zihuatanejo highway, and the 67-km stretch of the Bavispe-Nuevo Casas Grandes Highway is scheduled for completion by the end of this year. The project will also include maintenance of several state highways, although it will fall short of the 173 billion-peso plan announced by President Sheinbaum in February.
These upgrades are a significant step towards improving road safety, transport efficiency, and regional connectivity across Mexico, aiming to reduce regional inequalities and support economic growth in various regions of the country.
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