Playa del Carmen’s Tourist Avenue Chaos Continues

For the sixth time in just six weeks, Gas del Norte has reopened a section of 10th Avenue, situated between Juarez Avenue and 2nd North Street, in Playa del Carmen. This area is one of the city's busiest and most iconic locations. The company has been installing a gas pipeline to supply local tourist businesses, a project which has caused frustration among local entrepreneurs and service providers.

Cesar Navarro Medina, the manager of the Pez Vela restaurant, criticized the company for not providing prior notice of the works. He also expressed his concern about the potential impact on tourism, especially as the Easter week approaches. “This is the sixth time they've opened the same area without completing the project. This isn't progress, it's a setback for tourism,” Medina stated.

The ongoing closures have resulted in traffic congestion, annoyance for visitors, and financial losses for businesses in the city center. Medina has called on municipal authorities to intervene and penalize Gas del Norte for what he sees as a lack of planning.

Medina also reminded everyone that Doris Aké Sierra, the Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Works, had previously promised that Gas del Norte would be required to properly repair any areas affected by their work. He stressed the need for immediate action to address the issues on this critical stretch of the city. “We understand the need for the service, but not at the expense of the tourist economy or the patience of those of us who live and work here,” Medina concluded.