Puerto Morelos, Q,R. — Before the start of the transfer of material begins from the dock to Ruta de los Cenotes, mobility plans are being launched. On Sunday, Puerto Morelos City Council released a mobility plan that will be used once the trucks begin transporting the Maya Train material.
Rolando Melo Novelo, Municipal Secretary of Urban Development and Ecology, reported that the material will be moved from the Fiscal Dock to kilometer 5.5 of Ruta de los Cenotes.
The mobility plan has been approved by federal, state and municipal authorities and covers 9.9 kilometers.
Melo Novelo says the route will include Cozumel Street, Niños Héroes and José María Morelos Avenues, the underbridge of the federal highway and the Ruta de los Cenotes up to km 5.5.
The route will be used by hired dump trucks to transport the stone material that arrives from Cuba by boat, Melody, which is currently anchored outside the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park polygon.
The vessel remains anchored to take care of the reef barrier. It is from there that two Mexican-flagged barges will unload the material which will then be towed to the Fiscal Dock through a channel of navigation defined by the Harbor Master’s Office.
Private companies were contracted for the logistics from Cienfuegos, Cuba, to the landing at the Puerto Morelos logistics park, he continued. In addition, there are two companies contracted by the Government of Mexico to transport the stone on land.
In meetings, a maritime and terrestrial mitigation program was developed. There is a preliminary project in which mitigation measures were included that consider more than 10 wildlife crossings and more than 10 hydrological connections, which Avenida Morelos does not currently have.
“All the technicalities are being addressed to safeguard the environment and we are only waiting for a provisional or definitive permit,” he said.
The official assured that for two months they worked on strategies and inspected alternatives, such as alternative roads, to avoid the impact that traffic will generate on José María Morelos Avenue.
It also included the possibility of moving the trucks through the southern part of Punta Brava and on the north side, which is the exit to Crococun, but conditions needed were not found to use them as alternate routes.
“The only option is to take the trucks out along José María Morelos Avenue with the installation of preventive and informative signage, with the support of state and municipal road personnel and flaggers who control both vehicle and pedestrian circulation,” he said.
Melo Novelo said that three critical points were located at Kilometer 9.9, approximately 300 m before Kilometer 5.5 where signs and speed bumps are installed. He says there will be flaggers and support from the Army with personnel who will help direct traffic.
Also, the underbridge, where two-way signage will be installed with the support of road agents, and the intersection of Morelos and Niños Héroes Avenues where parking will be restricted on the latter so that there is more flow and a greater turning curve for trucks, but there will also be flaggers and traffic agents.
Although it was considered to carry the stone material 24 hours a day, it will be suspended during school entry and exit times, that is, from 7 to 8 in the morning and from 12:30 to 1:30. However, once the program is launched, schedules will be adjusted.
He also clarified that work was not only done on a mobility program, but also on other legal and environmental security, so that, for example, the trucks that will carry material will have to present a maintenance log, insurance that covers damages to third parties, mechanical agenda and drivers will be tested for breathalyzer upon entering and exiting.
He said that Municipal Transit, Public Security, Civil Protection, Firefighters, Urban Development, Ecology, Mayor’s Office, General Secretariat and Social Communication, which put together a very large team to attend to all the details, will participate in those programs.
He asked the citizens for patience considering that the transport project will last between seven and eight months, adding that the Maya Train project will include a station in Leona Vicario, which he says, will detonate the economy, attract investment, and contribute to the economy of the municipalities.