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It’s the main road heading from the international airport to the main tourist zone in Cancun, Mexico’s leading beach tourist destination.
Because there is so much tourist traffic on the road, it’s a popular spot for advertisers promoting their products to travelers on their vacation getaway.
However, a recent event caught many travelers by surprise and even put some of them in immediate danger on their vacation.
Watch For Falling Billboards
Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard, also known as Mexico Federal Highway 307, is one of the main roadways linking Tulum, Cancun and the Cancun International Airport. It is a highly trafficked road with a lot of the region’s tourist traffic.
Last week, one of the large billboards on the road collapsed during a busy time on the road catching several vehicles by surprise underneath the sign.
BOULEVARD COLOSIO.- interminable tráfico del aeropuerto hacia el centro de #Cancún .
— En Cambio Quintana Roo (@EnCambioQRoo) February 5, 2024
Cae colosal estructura de espectácular sobre un vehículo que transitaba sobre el boulevard.
Evite la zona @PoliciadeCancun pic.twitter.com/ygvJoL5gly
Winds were clocked in the area between 45 and 55 miles per hour at the time of the billboard collapse.
A white compact vehicle was crushed under the sign and tourist traffic on the road was snarled as drivers maneuvered around the downed sign in the middle of the road to get travelers to their destination.
Demands For Sign Removals
Immediately after the collapse, the Mexican Association of Incoming Tourism Agencies, sent an official request to Cancun officials asking for the signs to be removed from local roadways because of the immediate danger to locals and tourists.
They cited the increased risk during hurricane season when the winds are much stronger than the day of the collapse.
Cancun Mayor Ana Paty Peralta responded to the requests by having three of the large billboard signs at on Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard and José López Portillo Avenue removed.
She cited the safety and security of drivers and travelers along the major tourist highway as justification for the removal of advertising.
“We have requested the support the Mexican Society of Structural Engineering who are the experts in structures to make an opinion in conjunction with Civil Protection and to know which ones represent a risk to the safety of the people of Cancun,” Peralta said in a media interview about the removal.
Tourist Perception Concerns
Several local tourism companies were pleased with the removal of the large signs on Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard, considering them an eyesore for travelers to Cancun.
The complaints were that the signs detract from the natural beauty of the Mexican Caribbean for travelers and over commercialize the main roadways in the region.
Tourism providers were concerned about the initial perception visitors have after immediately leaving the airport.
The local municipal government was scheduled to review and discuss the concerns of the tourism industry and public safety officials at an upcoming meeting scheduled for later in the month.
What Travelers Need to Know
The large signs along Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard are not only an eye sore in the minds of many, but also a potential safety risk to travelers using the main highway between Tulum, Cancun and Cancun International Airport.
While the billboard sign collapse in Cancun was an unexpected event, its good to see that the municipal government and public safety officials have decided to put the safety and security of tourists and drivers first.
The action taken by removing some of the additional signs that could have posed additional hazards during stronger winds is a step in the right direction.
This will give local officials a chance to not only beautify the road for travelers, but also provide an opportunity to create lower scale roadway advertising promoting products and services to visitors and locals in Cancun at the same time.
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