Residents of Akumal win road repair battle against Mota Engil

Residents of Uxuxubi and Akumal, two towns in Mexico, staged a blockade on Thursday, demanding that the construction company Mota Engil repair their access roads. These roads have been severely damaged due to the construction of the Tren Maya on the South 5 section. After several hours of protest, the residents reached an agreement with the construction company and the blockade was lifted.

Early on Thursday, more than 80 locals from Uxuxubi, located in Solidaridad county, and Akumal, part of Tulum, closed the road in protest. They claimed that Mota Engil had failed to uphold its promise to repair the access road, which has been significantly damaged by the daily traffic of heavy cargo vehicles.

In response to the protest, representatives from the National Tourism Promotion Fund (FONATUR) and Mota Engil arrived to negotiate with the residents. After over two hours of discussion, a document was signed committing the company to provide a water tank and hydraulic base material for maintaining the 10-kilometer road that connects Uxuxubi and Akumal.

FONATUR also assured the residents that they would take necessary steps to pave the road with asphalt. They acknowledged that other materials would not be able to withstand the upcoming rainy season, especially as the Tren Maya construction project in the area is set to be completed in a month.

Antonio Alonso, a resident of Uxuxubi, expressed concerns about the dust from a nearby gravel pit. He claimed it was harmful to people's health, irritating the skin of those who travel by bike or motorcycle, and reducing visibility. He also pointed out that the dust was not only harmful to humans but also had a negative impact on the local environment and wildlife.