Cancún Residents Decry ‘Superficial’ Restoration of Historic Airport Control Tower Replica

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Residents and founding pioneers of Cancún are criticizing what they call a superficial restoration of a historic monument—a replica of the city’s first airport control tower—that has suffered years of neglect, with work only beginning recently ahead of the nearby Nichupté Bridge inauguration.

The maintenance project on the replica, which commemorates the original 1970s tower, is now underway after more than 15 years of deterioration, attempted arson, damage, and structural corrosion. However, locals argue the renovation amounts to little more than a cosmetic fix.

“As pioneers, we do feel affected by the lack of interest from municipal authorities in preserving monuments that are part of our identity in good condition,” said Rosario Gonzales, president of Cancún’s pioneers association. “The replica of the control tower barely exists anymore. Today I passed by the roundabout and the few remaining covering materials were removed—only the structure is left.”

The monument recalls the original tower located on what is now Kabah Avenue, site of the first airstrip that connected the fledgling Cancún with the rest of the country by air. The new replica was inaugurated on April 20, 2010, and over 16 years deteriorated significantly, suffering past fires that damaged its infrastructure. Caribbean salt air also took its toll, rotting the steel beams used in its construction, requiring their replacement.

In surveys, citizens expressed regret that a monument recalling part of what drove Cancún’s growth since the 1970s had fallen into such poor condition. They said out of respect for those who dedicated their lives to building the city, concrete actions should make the site more worthy of the history it represents.

Other long-time residents question why only a simplified remodel is being done, arguing it should incorporate more features that recall old Cancún’s history.

The collective Renovación Cancún, which includes young architects, designers, and urban planners, said they have proposed making the monument more dynamic rather than just a tower that new residents and foreigners passing on the vehicular bridge will not understand.

They suggested that while preserving the current structure over the Colosio Avenue underpass, it would be ideal to build a realistic replica near Kabah Urban Park—where the original stood—so it can be fully appreciated, since crossing the busy roundabout to see it can be dangerous.

Workers involved in the monument’s renovation said the project has been active for three weeks, and when they arrived they found the tower in lamentable condition. The wood was rotten, the palm roofing was nearly gone, and steel beams and plates were completely corroded, eating away at the remaining healthy metal.

They are currently sanding and painting the steel structure that will support new boards and necessary infrastructure, which they mentioned without detail would include lighting, new stairs, flooring at the tower’s base, and some commemorative plaques. Even the workers noted the engineer in charge described a very sober, if not simple, plan.

“Greater importance should be given to this and other monuments in serious disrepair,” said Emir Cardenas. “This one fortunately got something because it was under that vehicular bridge, and it would look horrible seeing this thing that appeared to be nothing at first glance. With the renovation we hope it recovers its splendor, but if nothing more than a renewal is done, the proposal will remain a palliative.”

Work continues, with workers preparing the metal structure and painting it, masons laying the slab with electrical installation, and then reconstructing the wood covering. But as citizens note, without a more ambitious plan, this will remain a simple cosmetic fix to save appearances before the imminent opening of the surrounding macro-project.