Mexicali’s water utility has nearly finished replacing aging stormwater pipes along Avenida Madero in the city’s historic Centro district, a project aimed at reducing street flooding before the summer rainy season arrives.
The Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Mexicali (CESPM) reported the drainage replacement is now 80% complete. Crews are installing 742 meters of 18-inch pipe along Avenida Madero between Calles A and C in the Segunda Sección neighborhood, one of the oldest parts of the city. The project also includes a new collection well and eight inspection wells.
A 7.18 Million Peso Investment
CESPM is funding the entire project from its own operating budget at a cost of 7.18 million pesos (roughly $360,000 USD). No state or federal funds are involved. Work began in late March 2026 and is expected to wrap up in May.
In addition to the main 18-inch line, crews are replacing smaller 8-inch and 12-inch stormwater pipes on the stretch of Avenida Madero between Calles A and B. That complementary work is designed to reinforce the system’s overall capacity in the same corridor.
Who Benefits and What to Expect
About 2,800 residents in the Segunda Sección stand to benefit from improved rainwater flow once the new pipes are in service. The low-lying Centro district has long been prone to flooding during Mexicali’s intense summer storms, which can dump heavy rainfall in short bursts and turn downtown streets into temporary canals.
Drivers and pedestrians on Avenida Madero should expect continued lane restrictions and possible detours until the project wraps up. The avenue is a key north-south corridor through downtown, running close to restaurants, shops, and government offices familiar to cross-border commuters from Calexico.
Separately, the Mexicali city government has also been rehabilitating pavement on Avenida Francisco I. Madero farther south, between Calle Agustín Melgar and Calle México, with new asphalt laid on the avenue’s northbound lanes as of mid-April.
This story was first reported by The Baja Post and Pregonero Baja.