The Baja California Sur state legislature voted on April 9 to formally urge federal authorities to open community dialogue before continuing construction on the Chametla to El Centenario highway segment near La Paz. The motion, introduced by state lawmaker Christian Fabrizio del Castillo Miranda, calls on the Secretaría de Infraestructura, Comunicaciones y Transportes (SICT), Mexico’s federal infrastructure agency, to consult with residents, municipal officials, and the state College of Engineers and Architects before resuming work.
The legislative resolution also asks Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío to ensure that community voices are included in planning and execution of the project. Del Castillo Miranda told fellow lawmakers that ignoring current conditions would perpetuate structural mobility problems affecting not just Chametla and El Centenario, but all of La Paz.
18,000 Vehicles a Day on a Strained Corridor
The Cola de La Ballena to Chametla to El Centenario corridor is the main western approach to La Paz. According to SICT traffic counts cited by del Castillo Miranda, more than 18,000 vehicles use the route daily. That volume creates chronic congestion and raises the risk of accidents along a road that was not designed for current demand.
Rapid population growth in El Centenario, one of the fastest-expanding communities in Baja California Sur, has intensified pressure on the corridor. The lawmaker argued that a comprehensive strategic plan is needed, not piecemeal construction that catches residents off guard.
Protests and a Prior Work Stoppage
The legislative push follows weeks of tension over the same project. In early March, Governor Castro Cosío ordered a temporary suspension of the road modernization work after residents of Chametla and El Centenario protested what they called poorly executed construction. Secretary General of Government Saúl González Núñez met with community members, SICT regional director Marco Antonio Gutiérrez de la Rosa, and La Paz municipal official Jehú Vázquez Savín.
That meeting produced an agreement to halt work while a technical review committee, including representatives from CONAGUA (Mexico’s national water commission), Protección Civil, and the Guardia Nacional, evaluated safety concerns. Despite the agreement, Chametla residents staged a partial blockade of the Transpeninsular Highway on the following Sunday to demand permanent solutions.
What Comes Next
The legislature’s resolution is non-binding but adds political pressure on SICT to formalize public input. Concerns center on flood prevention, nighttime lighting, road signage, and the overall design of the upgraded highway through two populated communities. The governor said in early March that improved illumination and signage would make the project’s purpose clearer to residents.
For drivers who use the western approach to La Paz, the timeline for resumed construction remains uncertain. No date has been set for the next round of community consultations.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias and Radar Político.