Persistent Sinkhole on Highway 307 Finally Set for Repair

A sinkhole that has plagued the federal highway 307 north of Playa del Carmen for nearly a decade is finally set to be repaired. The repair work, confirmed during a recent site visit, is scheduled to begin next week. The sinkhole first appeared in August 2015 at kilometer 307+650, measuring 30 meters in length and two meters deep. It has been a persistent issue for both local transporters and tourists traveling between Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Playa del Carmen.

The initial response to the sinkhole in 2015 was led by the Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT), who attempted to fill the hole and replace the asphalt layer. However, the area began to show signs of deterioration again in 2021, with cracks and collapses reappearing. This led to another intervention by the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT) and the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (Fonatur). Despite these efforts, the issue was not permanently resolved.

The stretch of highway where the sinkhole is located sees thousands of vehicles daily and has been the site of numerous accidents, some of which have been fatal. Transporters have voiced concerns about the lack of adequate road signage and poor lighting at temporary diversions, which heighten the risk of accidents.

As repair work begins, drivers are advised to exercise extra caution due to potential disruptions to traffic flow. The hope is that this definitive intervention will finally resolve a problem that has long threatened safety and mobility on one of the region’s busiest highways.