SICT to Finish Repairing Roads Damaged by Hurricane by May 2023

Hurricane Agatha devastated roads and bridges in Oaxaca and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) plans to allocate MX$1.2 billion (US$65 million) to repair over 1,062 problems in the federal and state highway networks. 

During the meeting of "Support Plan for people affected by Hurricane Agatha in Oaxaca," Jorge Nuño Lara, Head, SICT, said that landslides and drainage collapses were the most common damages detected after Hurricane Agatha, which occurred in May 2022. Nuño explained that Oaxaca suffered the collapse of 26 bridges, which are currently being rebuilt. Works have also begun to restore traffic and provide provisional crossing alternatives, as nine bridges are under construction. 

Following Hurricane Agatha, authorities "carried out different actions to guarantee the safety of users and restore the circulation of highways and roads in the entity by sending technical personnel, crews, machinery and vehicles to be able to re-establish passage,” said Nuño via a SICT press release.

SICT plans to finish the construction of 17 bridges in 2023, which will cost MX$422 million (US$22.46 million). The ministry expects to finish these works by May 2023 to guarantee a superior road network prior to the rainy season. The Oaxaca government will work alongside SICT to restore feeder roads, as Nuño clarified that authorities focused on the reparation of the nine bridges in November due to their critical roles as connectors for the inhabitants of towns in the state. 

The bridges that needed most attention were those at Cieneguilla, El Pochote, Arroyo Mazorca, Coixtepec, Miguel, Rio Sal, Copalita, Arroyo Iguana and El Azufre, said Nuño. Repair of these bridges began on 4Q22 and the goal is to finish the repairs by March 2023. “The vehicular passage has not been suspended due to the construction of these bridges,” says Nuño. 

The National Coordinator of Civil Protection, Laura Velázquez Alzúa, highlighted that more than 500km of federal and state road network, 16 federal and state bridges and 130 rural roads were restored in response to the phenomenon. 

SICT is also planning to finish the construction of the Mitla-Tehuantepec highway by 2023, which is expected to benefit 80,000 inhabitants and 14 local communities. Reports indicated that the highway presented a 55% completion in June 2021, as reported by MBN.