Traffic has spiraled out of control at the Fonatur roundabout in San José del Cabo following the start of major renovation work. Motorists report chaos due to ongoing construction, and the government agency SICT has yet to announce any alternative routes to ease congestion. Currently, aside from the toll road, there are no viable detours to avoid the gridlock.
This week, construction officially began on the overpass at the Fonatur roundabout, located between the Chedraui and La Mega shopping centers in the Hotel Zone. As anticipated, the work has caused severe congestion at this already-busy intersection.
Despite the presence of Public Safety and Traffic personnel assisting with the project, traffic remains heavy, severely disrupting daily commutes. Local reporters spoke with drivers to understand the impact. Some said the journey from the La Ballena neighborhood to the roundabout now takes up to three hours.
“From La Ballena, we’ve been traveling for about three hours. This is affecting us significantly, we have specific arrival times and are struggling to make it,” said Jesús Martínez, one of the drivers interviewed. He described the situation as stressful, noting that even alternate routes are jammed.
Martín Rodríguez added that an effective traffic management plan is urgently needed. “It’s very stressful. Maybe we need to leave home even earlier to make it back on time. It takes me 15 minutes just to get from Plaza Mijares to here. We’re overwhelmed. The expectations they set haven’t been met. They need to find an alternative route,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT), the most intensive phase of the project began about three weeks ago. Though the agency previously assured the public that mobility would be maintained, it has yet to specify which detours are available fueling frustration among residents and commuters.
“I used to reach La Mega from my nearby condo in 6 to 10 minutes. Today it took me an hour and a half,” said Elieth Garcia, a longtime expat.
The overpass construction at the Fonatur roundabout is expected to cause major traffic disruptions for approximately two years. Yes, two long, chaotic years, unless effective alternative routes are found to ease the daily gridlock.
It’s an underpass amigo