How 2 Guadalajara transport projects are advancing

Mexico’s Jalisco state is focusing its 2023 efforts on two major transport projects for capital Guadalajara that include funds and participation of the federal government and private players. 

One involves the 20bn-peso (US$1bn) line No. 4 of Guadalajara’s light rail system, which was awarded last year through a PPP contract, and the other involves the expansion of the city’s international airport, which is operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP).

On Tuesday, infrastructure, communications and transportation minister Jorge Nuño Lara (pictured third from the right) and Jalisco governor Enrique Alfaro (second from the left) supervised the construction of the projects. 

The aim of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is to finish all projects before ending his term in September 2024. Alfaro will also leave office next year.

Line No. 4: 25% progress

Last week, Jalisco transport minister Diego Monraz Villaseñor told an event that construction of the 21km line had reached 25% progress with pre-operation tests set to begin in a year. 

The state’s infrastructure and public works ministry (SIOP) is overseeing the works and the contract for the design, construction and operation was awarded to a consortium led by Mota-Engil Mexico in September. Works kicked off in December. 

The eight-station line will connect central Guadalajara and Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, creating a link with line No. 1 and the Mi Macro Periférico BRT beltway corridor. It will have the capacity to transport 272 passengers at a speed of 80km/h. 

Airport expansion: 2nd runway almost ready

The expansion of the busiest of GAP’s 14 terminals began in 2020. The estimated US$742mn project involves the construction of a third terminal, a second runway, new hangars and customs, and modernization of terminal No. 1. 

SICT said in a statement that GAP’s plan also includes “the construction of a hotel, as well as international level equipment for two fire-fighting areas, three water recovery wells, as well as areas for birds of prey to control harmful fauna.”

The second runway will be completed by the end of the year, while works on the other terminal will be ready in 2027 and start operations that same year, the group’s institutional relations and social responsibility director, Alejandra Soto Ayech, said during a May event.

She also said that GAP is planning to invest more than 25bn pesos during 2025-30 in its upcoming five-year master plan, which is subject to approval by the federal government. The previous master plan contemplated 24bn pesos.

The group is also supporting SIOP’s plan for a new 8.5km BRT extension that will connect with the airport from the Mi Macro Periférico BRT system, said Monraz.