President Claudia Sheinbaum remotely inaugurated the new Fonatur roundabout overhaul in San José del Cabo on May 25, ending a year of construction that transformed one of Los Cabos’ worst traffic bottlenecks into a grade-separated interchange. The project, officially named Glorieta de las Mujeres Libres de Baja California Sur, cost 700 million pesos (about $40.5 million USD) and is expected to cut travel times by up to 25 minutes.
The intersection sits on Highway 1, the Transpeninsular Highway, and serves as the primary gateway connecting Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), downtown San José del Cabo, and the tourist corridor to Cabo San Lucas. Before construction began in May 2025, the roundabout handled more than 60,000 vehicles per day. Rush-hour gridlock routinely added 20 to 30 minutes to airport transfers.
What the New Interchange Includes
The rebuilt corridor spans 1.5 kilometers and sends four lanes of through-traffic beneath the existing roundabout via an 800-meter below-grade underpass. The underpass doubles as flood mitigation infrastructure, designed to prevent the seasonal flooding that has plagued the area. The roundabout itself remains at surface level for local traffic movements.
Drivers will also encounter a new synchronized traffic light system linking the Fonatur roundabout with the Walmart intersection, Manuel Doblado Street, and the junction known as “La Y.” The project includes a two-way bike lane, 17 pedestrian crossings, nearly two hectares of sidewalks, and a pedestrian bridge.
Jobs, Budget, and What Comes Next
The federal government invested 320 million pesos ($18.2 million USD) in 2025 and an additional $22 million USD in 2026 to finish the project. Construction generated 2,100 jobs over the year-long build. The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) said the completed interchange will benefit 351,000 local residents and 2.6 million national and international tourists who visit Los Cabos annually.
Roberto Flores, Director General of Urban Development for Los Cabos, confirmed the project had reached 98% completion by mid-May. Only minor finishing work remained before the May 25 opening. Mayor Christian Agúndez Gómez had tracked the project’s progress publicly, confirming 72% completion in late February.
The original source is the Baja California Sur state government website, bcs.gob.mx.