Residents Block ‘Highway of Death’ in Quintana Roo to Demand Safety Upgrades

Kantunilkín, Quintana Roo — Community leaders from three towns in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas blocked Federal Highway 180 on Sunday to demand federal action on a stretch of road they say has become known as “the highway of death.”

Delegates and sub-delegates from Nuevo Xcan, Ignacio Zaragoza and El Ideal staged the blockade at kilometer 29, closing the Nuevo Xcan–Kilometer 80 section. They said the road is too narrow in both directions and lacks the necessary signage and shoulders.

The community representatives noted that while federal authorities have made significant improvements to Federal Highway 307, the Playa del Carmen–Cancún stretch promoted as the “gateway for international tourism,” Highway 180 — which connects productive communities and carries the daily commute of thousands of Quintana Roo residents — has been neglected.

The road is used daily by tourism service providers, farmers, families in nearby communities and even officials from all three levels of government, they said.

“This road is already known as the highway of death,” said Renán Canché, sub-delegate of El Ideal. “There are accidents almost every day, from large trucks to small vehicles, motorcyclists and cyclists.”

“I call on Governor Mara Lezama and President Claudia Sheinbaum to please take the necessary steps to improve this highway,” Canché said.

Juan José De La Cruz Hau Cupul, delegate of Nuevo Xcan, asked state and federal authorities to stop “turning a deaf ear” and take action to fix the road.

“This ‘highway of death’ has been reported, and steps have been taken, but it lacks maintenance. The highway is very small because it doesn’t have the regulatory measurements to be able to drive on it safely,” he added.

The leaders said adding shoulders to the road could significantly reduce accidents.

“It hurts when you get the news that a family member has died. We’ve already had material losses from cars being destroyed. We want to make a call so they can give us attention and the shoulder this highway so badly needs. We hope they respond quickly,” Hau Cupul said.

The protest ended with community leaders reiterating their demand for the road to be restructured to guarantee the safety of the thousands of families who travel it every day.