Chiapas modernizing urban roadways

Southern Mexico's Chiapas state government is spending 300mn pesos (US$26mn) to modernize two roadways running a total of 14.5km through busy sections of Tapachula city, José López, the state's deputy director of public works, told BNamericas. Chiapas is investing 150mn pesos this year and the remainder in 2005, when the project is expected to wrap up. The three-lane roadways run north-south through the city, which serves as a link for the coffee industry and a gateway to Central America. Works entail expanding the roadways to better handle traffic flow, plus installing new stoplights, signs, bus stops and trees to enhance its aesthetics. "Tapachula's physical appearance is out of date with current times, and we're changing it bit by bit," López said. The city has roughly 200,000 residents.