Showing posts with label Travel Mexico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Mexico. Show all posts
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Friday, March 1, 2024
Thursday, February 29, 2024
These places on the solar eclipse path have the perfect names
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US issues spring break travel warning for Mexico
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Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Volcanic ash from Popocatépetl causes some flight cancellations in Puebla, CDMX
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The Popocatépetl volcano to the southeast of Mexico City is spewing ash onto Puebla and the Valley of Mexico, causing some flight disruptions. |
MARCH 2024 NAVIGATING PROGRESS: A NEW HIGHWAY TO THE COAST OF OAXACA FEBRUARY 28, 2024 THE EYE MEXICO
NAVIGATING PROGRESS: A NEW HIGHWAY TO THE COAST OF OAXACA
By Randy Jackson
On February 4, 2024, the inauguration of an essential transportation artery for the Oaxaca Coast, including Huatulco, marked a significant milestone in the development of the coast of Oaxaca. La Autopista Barranca Larga-Ventanilla is a toll highway, linking Oaxaca City to the coastal road near Puerto Escondido, approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Huatulco. This highway is expected to reduce travel time from Huatulco to Oaxaca City by approximately four hours and it will integrate the Oaxaca Coast into Mexico’s toll road system.
The construction of this highway over the course of 20 years has faced many challenges. The project was initiated under President Ernesto Zedillo in 1999. However, construction progress experienced numerous interruptions across subsequent presidential terms, spanning administrations from Vicente Fox to Felipe Calderón and Peña Nieto, before its inauguration by the current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO). on February 4th.
The road isn’t quite finished, but it is in use. One taxi driver I spoke to drove the route the day before inauguration, and the trip to Oaxaca City took 5 hours from Huatulco. The highway is very similar to the road between the airport and Huatulco, two lanes with wide shoulders. It is a toll road but the government has announced it would be toll free for the first year. Some of the final work on the highway includes construction of the toll booths and highway connections to communities along its route.
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The Use of Roadblocks
Amid the bevy of news reports announcing the inauguration of this highway were reports of two illegal blockades within 24 hours of the highway opening. One was set up by some members of the municipality of San Jerónimo Coatlán demanding an audit of their former administrator and current municipal president. Another blockade was by the municipality of San Pablo Coatlán, demanding payment for their lands and claiming they would charge a toll themselves.
Anyone familiar with driving on Oaxaca highways is aware of the issue of roadblocks. Highway blockades are an effective tool for municipalities in getting the attention of the state or federal authorities. The setting up of roadblocks within a day of the new highway’s inauguration serves as a troubling sign for users of this highway, although it should be noted that most Oaxacan roadblocks are typically short-term, allowing vehicles to pass through after a few hours. Some however, have been in place for much longer.
Roadblocks had been a major source of construction delays for this highway. Notably, one agrarian dispute between two communities which held up progress for over a year. This community dispute has resulted in up to 28 fatalities since 2008, according to Imparcial News. The expropriation of 13 kilometers of land for the new highway through these communities exacerbated tensions. The deployment of blockades to obstruct construction thrust this conflict into the limelight, capturing the attention of authorities and the wider Mexican public.
The Two Disputing Communities
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Situated approximately 95 kilometers south of Oaxaca City, the two communities of Villa Sola de Vega (population 12,350) and San Vicente Coatlán (population 3,512) are both municipalities. In Mexico, municipalities represent the third tier of government, positioned below the Federal and State levels. Villa Sola de Vega spans an area of 680 square kilometers and encompasses 138 villages. San Vicente Coatlán covers an area of 105 square kilometers and includes 8 villages within its jurisdiction.
The communities’ dispute over the ownership of 19,600 hectares of land dates back to 1976. In 2006, The Tribunal Unitario Agrario 21 de Oaxaca (Unitary agrarian court of Oaxaca) ruled in favor of the municipality Villa Sola de Vega. San Vicente Coatlán disputed this, citing a presidential decree in 1754 allocating the land to them. This ruling by the agrarian court resulted in numerous acts of violence between the communities over the years, including the wounding of a state policeman in 2017.
Following AMLO’s election in 2018, he unveiled plans to prioritize the completion of the Barranca Larga-Ventanilla highway as part of his infrastructure agenda. In 2021, he personally visited these two communities, pledging to facilitate dialogue to address the conflict and expedite highway construction. However, by September 2022, the municipality of San Vicente Coatlán announced a blockade of the construction, citing perceived lack of progress toward resolution.
In January 2023, AMLO announced that his administration was in consultation with the two communities, and if a resolution could not be found within one month, an alternate highway route would be used avoiding the lands of these two municipalities altogether.
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An agreement was made shortly thereafter and the construction of the highway was completed. The two communities each received 50% of the disputed lands and the Municipality of Villa Sola de Vega was to receive a gas station, a tourist inn, a communal property office, and a water and sewage treatment plant. This settlement demonstrates the effectiveness of blockades, and marks progress for these two communities.
The Road Beyond Inauguration
Although potential roadblocks and more construction delays may haunt this new highway for a time, the significance of this transportation infrastructure looks to be a game changer for Huatulco and the Oaxaca Coast. It promises economic benefits from more efficient transport of goods as well as more tourists, likely many more tourists. The increase in tourism is expected to bring more investments and jobs to Huatulco and the Oaxaca Coast.
New investments and jobs can be stymied, however, without further investments in service infrastructure, potable water and expanded sewage handling in particular. These services are at capacity in Huatulco, and exceeding capacities in Puerto Escondido. For nine years Puerto Escondido has been pumping raw sewage into the ocean, and their potable water system, like that of Huatulco, struggles to meet demand.
With the transition of Huatulco from FONATUR to the State of Oaxaca, any new service infrastructure will be the responsibility of the state. This may prove to be a test for the state government in their commitment to the development of the Oaxaca Coast. But for now at least, the road is open and Huatulqueños anxiously await future announcements of new service infrastructure to navigate further progress.
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For contact or comment, email: box95jackson@gmail.com.
- MEXICO 22 flights at the AICM are canceled due to ash fall from Popocatépetl
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Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Sunday, February 25, 2024
17 playas en la costa de Oaxaca para escaparte en fin de semana - NVI Noticias
| 17 playas en la costa de Oaxaca para escaparte en fin de semana - NVI Noticias Un pequeño poblado entre Zipolite y Mazunte, al igual que estos dos cuenta con un ambiente acogedor, bohemio y relajado, la playa es hermosa, de arena ... |
Spirit Airlines postpones new route to Tulum
The new nonstop service was supposed to start next month, but has been delayed due to operational issues. |
Europe’s first direct flight to Tulum airport announced
This new route will not begin operations until later in 2024, but the first international flights from the U.S. and Canada will start arriving next month. |
Las 10 playas más destacadas de México en 2024: ¡No te imaginas cuáles son! Dimension Turistica Magazine Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca: Conocida por ser una playa nudista, este lugar es ideal para quienes buscan una experiencia diferente y relajada. 9. Playa ...
| Las 10 playas más destacadas de México en 2024: ¡No te imaginas cuáles son! Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca: Conocida por ser una playa nudista, este lugar es ideal para quienes buscan una experiencia diferente y relajada. 9. Playa ... |
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Mexican Chile Peppers 101: Everything you need to know Which chile pepper is the hottest?
Which chile pepper is the hottest? What's the difference between Serrano and Árbol? Our comprehensive guide will turn you into a pepper pro. Read more.
Mexican Chile Peppers 101: Everything you need to knowWhich chile pepper is the hottest? What's the difference between Serrano and Árbol? Our comprehensive guide will turn you into a pepper pro. Read more.
Popocatépetl blows off steam; ashfall unlikely in Mexico City
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"Don Goyo" rumbled and emitted a fumarole on Tuesday, but authorities have not increased the volcanic activity alert level. |
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Mexico beaches that are still hidden gems: Rivieria Nayarit, near Puerta Vallarta
From all-inclusive hotels to chill beach vibes, Riviera Nayarit has something for everyone searching for a piece of Mexican paradise. Read more.
Peso holds steady against the US dollar
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The peso reached its strongest position against the US dollar in over a month on Tuesday morning. |
Friday, February 16, 2024
THESE ARE THE ARTICLES OUR READERS ARE TALKING ABOUT
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THESE ARE THE ARTICLES OUR READERS ARE TALKING ABOUT |
"Two minor earthquakes occurred within the space of one minute in Mexico City early Wednesday." MND Staff |
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