Overview
- The federal infrastructure ministry (SICT) authorized the bypass, which state officials say is close to starting construction and is intended to provide an alternate route if the scenic Tijuana–Ensenada highway suffers further landslides or earthquake damage.
- State secretary Kurt Honold Morales said the final decision must consider Ensenada residents’ views and that a population rejection should stop the project, while he also called for analysis of environmental impacts including the presence of endemic plants.
- A coalition of more than 100 local organizations, researchers and residents publicly accused Banobras and project planners of opacity after authorities classified project documentation for five years and they demanded immediate declassification of the files.
- The project’s environmental impact statement (MIA), prepared by TGC Geotecnia, was flagged for alleged omissions and technical inconsistencies in its treatment of geological stability, hydrology, ecological harms and archaeological sites, and the firm has been reported to have received more than 51.9 million pesos for related work.
- If works proceed, the bypass could restore reliable land access to Ensenada but could also affect aquifers, coastal ecosystems and communities, so the next key developments to watch are whether officials order independent reviews, hold a binding local consultation, or impose a formal pause on construction.