Government to Repair Highways Near the Mayan Train

The federal government announced nine tenders between November and December 2023 to address road repairs in Quintana Roo, in response to the strains caused by material and machinery transportation for the construction of the Mayan Train.

During the inauguration of the first section of the Mayan Train project on Dec. 25, 2023, President López Obrador announced plans for the refurbishment of highways affected by construction activities. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing roads impacted by the project and stated that he was compiling a list of the most critical areas to refurbish. Despite the initial deadline for contract awards set for Jan. 31, 2024, the resolution of all nine tender processes has been postponed to a later date, yet to be determined.

The majority of the projects focus on various segments of Highway 307 from Tulum to Chetumal, with participation from national and regional construction groups. According to López Obrador, roads in Chiapas, Campeche, Tabasco, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo, particularly the Chetumal-Escarcega highway, have faced significant impact due to the transportation of construction materials.

One of the tenders focuses on the rehabilitation of route 186 from Francisco Escarcega to Chetumal, bordering Quintana Roo. This project is labeled as 1LO-09-643-009000950-N-1-2024 at the government’s procurement platform Compranet. The project also considers the branch to Subteniente Lopez heading towards Belize, from kilometer 0.0 to 3.6, and another section on this same branch from kilometer 1.3 to 3.3. Additionally, a 42-km stretch is envisaged on route 307, from kilometer 0.0 to 21.

Among the bids presented in these tenders are Obras Civiles, Inversión y Desarrollo’s MX$13 million (US$760,247) proposal, Constructora y Arrendadora Frelke de México’s MX$11.8 million, Farenheit Construcción y Supervisión’s MX$12.7 million, Construcciones y Conservaciones Calakmul’s MX$12.1 million, and Constructora Balbek’s MX$12.2 million bid.

Another tender covers maintenance along Highway 307 and Highway 293's Lazaro Cardenas Polyuc section. This is labeled as LO-09-643-009000950-N-2-2024 on Compranet. For this project, interested companies and proposals are Obras Civiles, Inversión y Desarrollo with MX$12.1 million, the consortium formed by Amner del Jesús Ávila Soto y Águila Constructora del Sureste with MX$12 million, Construcciones Terramar Mzo with MX$12.9 million, Construcciones y Conservaciones Calakmul with MX$11.9 million, and Ingeniería Integral Doca with MX$11.2 million.

A third tender covering the largest stretches of highways is the LO-09-643-009000950-N-3-2024, for the routine maintenance of 150.13km of routes 184 and 293. The works corresponding to route 184 Merida–Felipe Carrillo Puerto, at the border between Yucatan and Quintana Roo, span from kilometer 117 to 213. The companies interested in these projects are Obras Civiles, Inversión y Desarrollo with a bid of MX$12.2 million, Irs Genam with MX$10.8 million, Servicios Especializados para la Construcción Casbec de Chiapas with MX$11.2 million, LCD Once with MX$11.1 million, Construcciones y Conservaciones Calakmul with MX$11.5 million, and Grupo 1, conformed by Génesis Constructora y Comercializadora and Comercializadora Mexgro for MX$10.3 million.