Cancun’s Bridge Costs Double to 12 Billion Pesos

CANCUN — The Nichupté Vehicular Bridge, a major infrastructure project under construction in Cancun to alleviate traffic in the hotel zone, is now projected to cost 11.809 billion pesos. This figure represents a cost overrun of 112% compared to its original bidding budget of 5.570 billion pesos, according to official information from the Mexican federal government.

The current doubled cost is recorded in quarterly reports to the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) on the progress of federal works. By the end of 2025, the bridge had already reached an investment of 10.899 billion pesos. During a morning press conference on Wednesday, March 4, the head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina, detailed that the investment for 2025 and 2026 amounts to 3.839 billion pesos. Of that figure, 2.929 billion correspond to 2025, with the remaining 910 million pesos allocated for completion in 2026.

Planning Flaws Delayed and Increased Project Cost

The project has been postponed repeatedly since December 2023, its first announced inauguration date, due to planning flaws. These flaws led to the discovery of weaknesses in the karst soil of the Nichupté lagoon as work progressed, causing delays and increased costs. The poor quality of soil mechanics studies forced the construction of additional, unplanned structures, such as a metal bridge to cross a cenote and the placement of additional piles at support points in the highest area of the bridge due to settlement of the first ones.

More than ten announcements have been made regarding the completion of the work, but these have not been fulfilled due to various technical complications encountered during construction. The original planned investment for 2025 was 2.1 billion pesos, but it was finally raised to 2.929 billion pesos that year. The same additional expenses and the completion of bridge details led to the application of 910 million pesos more in 2026.

Final Stretch and Load Testing

In the information from last Wednesday, SICT head Jesús Antonio Esteva stated that all slabs have now been poured on the Nichupté Bridge, with crews building parapets and paving. Load tests will also be carried out on the entire stretch. "Once we complete our testing, we will open it to traffic. We estimate that this will happen in April," he stated.

On March 10, the SICT reported the project is 96% complete following a supervisory tour by staff from the agency and the National Water Commission (Conagua), representing an advance of almost two percent since mid-February.

The director of the SICT Quintana Roo Center, Guido Mendiburu Solís, estimated that the main construction will be finished towards the end of March, as the work has achieved the total connection of the slab along the entire structure. The bridge extends approximately 11.2 kilometers over the lagoon. He added that the project has entered its final phase, with the last stages consisting of paving, installation of curbs, safety parapets, and the lighting system.

Simultaneously, processes to incorporate the bridge's technological equipment have begun, particularly in the area of the arches. Video surveillance cameras, electronic information panels, and digital screens are being installed as part of a traffic monitoring and control system. Another work front is located at the Kukulcán junction, where necessary maneuvers are being carried out to connect the bridge with Boulevard Kukulcán, a key access point to the Cancun hotel zone.

Mendiburu said that, while the main structure will be completed by the end of March, various complementary tasks will continue afterwards. These include the placement of road signs, painting work, and minor technical adjustments essential for the work to be declared completely finished.