Mahahual, Quintana Roo — The impact of sargassum on the Costa Maya is now extending beyond beaches to road infrastructure, as tourism service providers warn that erosion from the constant arrival of the macroalgae has deteriorated a section of the coastal Mahahual-Uvero road, where one lane has virtually disappeared.
The affected area is on one of the most heavily used routes by domestic and international tourists, particularly cruise passengers visiting Mahahual who travel to beach clubs and recreational centers north of the destination.
According to business owners in the sector, the road’s deterioration has intensified in recent years due to changes in the coastline, which they attribute to the persistent impact of sargassum and erosion caused by the sea.
They stated that the road’s current conditions pose a risk to motorists, tour operators, workers, and residents who use the road daily, especially during the vacation season when traffic increases significantly.
In response, they called on the Secretariat of Public Works (SEOP), the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat (Sedetur), and the Othón P. Blanco municipal government to address the problem before a major accident occurs.
They also noted that revenue is collected from the Environmental Sanitation Fee applied to cruise passengers, and they considered it feasible to allocate some of those funds to rehabilitate the Mahahual-Uvero road, which they described as strategic for tourism activity and access to various recreational centers in the Costa Maya.
