Tourists headed to Cancun are being warned of delays as a major renovation of the city’s main road that leads to the airport begins. The infrastructure upgrade is estimated to take over a year and will help reduce traffic in the busy area once completed. In the meanwhile, local officials are planning alternate roads to help avoid delays over the summer.
The main road leading to Cancun International Airport is undergoing a large-scale renovation to accommodate a growing number of visitors in the popular destination. The overhaul mainly affects Colosio Boulevard, which leads to the airport, and is expected to cause delays of up to two hours at peak times to road users, including arriving and departing visitors.
Tourism businesses, such as travel agencies, are significantly affected by the renovation. In response, they are warning passengers about the delays and have told them to plan at least an additional hour for airport transfers. There have also been calls to carry out the construction during nighttime in order to minimize disruptions during the peak travel hours, especially as the busy summer season kicks off.
In a statement to Reportur, Eduardo Paniagua, the president of the Mexican Travel Agency Association, says that notifying clients about the change is key “Tourists will be asked to show up at least an hour ahead of schedule; for example, for domestic flights, which normally take two hours, will now take three, and for international flights, passengers should show up to four hours ahead of schedule to avoid setbacks”.
Local travel associations say that the delays will also affect transfers from the airport to popular locations such as Playa del Carmen, and travelers should brace themselves for up to two-hour delays during rush hours. Despite the delays, the infrastructure project is a major win for the area, which has seen congested roads as millions of tourists flock to Cancun’s beaches each year, causing traffic build-ups.
Even though the renovation aims to reduce traffic and improve access to the city’s main tourist sights including the popular resort district, authorities say that short-term delays are expected to persist for the duration of the project. In that regard, local officials are working with travel businesses in order to keep them updated on the current status of the project. The goal is to ensure that tourists are aware of the situation and help them plan accordingly.
The renovations affecting Colosio Boulevard are just one of several infrastructure upgrades in the area. Authorities recently announced a new 8-kilometer-long vehicular bridge to be built between the city center and Cancun’s resort district. That project is also expected to cause some disruptions to travelers in the area over the summer.
Cancun To Announce Alternate Roads To Minimize Delays
Over the next year, construction workers will be repairing over 13 kilometers of Cancun’s Colosio Boulevard to help alleviate traffic and improve access to the city’s airport. The infrastructure project will affect some of the busiest holiday periods, including the current summer and upcoming winter periods.
The municipality of Benito Juárez, where Cancun is located, is finalizing the details of new alternate roads to help minimize disruptions and help visitors reach their destination in as little time as possible. Currently, authorities are considering several alternatives to redirect traffic flow, including Huayacán, Colegios, and Bonampak avenues. According to traffic officials, the alternate routes are expected to be operational by August and are hoped to avoid further disruptions to travelers’ vacation plans.
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