Puerto Morelos Pedestrian Bridge in Ruins After 15 Years of Neglect

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — Residents of this coastal town are demanding action over a pedestrian bridge that has deteriorated into what they describe as a “post-apocalyptic” state after 15 years without maintenance.

The bridge, officially named “Villas Morelos II,” spans Highway 307 at the entrance to the Villas Morelos 2 neighborhood. Built in 2011 by what was then called the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT), now the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT), the structure was intended to provide safe crossing for pedestrians accessing transportation to workplaces.

Now, residents say the bridge appears ready to collapse. The metal safety railings have rusted to the point of decay, moss and slime cover the structure, and the entire framework shows significant damage. Pedestrons complain that the bridge looks so unsafe they hesitate to use it.

The 38.3-meter-long, 2.5-meter-wide bridge is listed among pedestrian bridges belonging to the Federal Paved Toll-Free Road Network under the general direction of highway conservation. Despite this designation, no federal, state, or municipal authority has addressed its condition.

Accessibility is another concern. The sidewalk approach lacks a ramp for people with reduced mobility, and the pedestrian crossing is so damaged that drivers often ignore it, creating accident risks. These necessary improvements have never been implemented in the 15 years since construction.

On the Cancún-bound side, a shelter where people could wait for transportation was destroyed in an accident years ago. The debris remained for years before being removed, and no replacement shelter was ever built.

During rain, the sidewalk—which sits at street level—floods, making it impossible to access public transportation. On this same side, overgrown vegetation has turned the area into a jungle.

Residents accuse authorities of serious neglect of vital community infrastructure. They demand concrete action rather than what they call “exhibitions at events and photo opportunities” by officials.