Sheinbaum Pledges to Open Cancún’s Nichupté Bridge in April After Multiple Delays

Cancún, Quintana Roo — President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration announced the long-delayed Nichupté vehicular bridge in Cancún is now scheduled to open by the end of April, following multiple postponements since the project began.

The infrastructure project, originally envisioned for completion during former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration, has received yet another estimated completion date. Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina, head of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation, stated the 11-kilometer bridge crossing the Nichupté lagoon could be ready by late next month.

During a visit to the state, Sheinbaum toured the construction progress and reiterated the commitment to finish the project in April. “Everything indicates the bridge will open toward the end of April,” the official said during a press conference in Cancún.

This announcement marks the latest in a series of delayed opening dates. Since 2023, when the bridge was projected to open alongside the Maya Train, the project has faced multiple setbacks. More recently, SICT officials in Quintana Roo had indicated the work might conclude between January and February of this year, which did not materialize.

Previous reports indicate the construction has faced various technical problems, including criticism for beginning without adequate environmental studies, along with significant cost overruns. The original budget, estimated at approximately 4.335 billion pesos, has ballooned to over 10.899 billion pesos.

Additionally, the Superior Audit Office of the Federation has flagged observations exceeding 95 million pesos related to the 2023 fiscal year.

During the tour, Sheinbaum was accompanied by Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa and highlighted the project’s scale, noting it will be the longest bridge built over a lagoon in the country.

The infrastructure aims to improve connectivity to the hotel zone, reducing travel times from over an hour to approximately 10 minutes, particularly for journeys from Cancún International Airport.