There was more woe for downtown Guadalajara drivers this week as City Hall’s Public Works Department all but closed off to traffic the stretch on Avenida 16 de Septiembre between Niños Heroes and Revolucion.
Over the next five months, work crews will transform this nine-block stretch into an extension of the Paseo Alcalde pedestrian zone that currently runs from La Normal Glorieta to the city center.
Only one lane of 16 de Septiembre (towards Revolucion) has remained open to traffic, causing heavy back ups of vehicles. Many motorists complained about the measure, saying they had no prior warning and no signs advising of detours had been put up on the initial days of the work. The project will take five months to complete, City Hall estimates.
Although some cars will be allowed on the new stretch of the Paseo, many business owners on 16 de Septiembre fear it will affect their trade, and several have filed protests with City Hall.
In addition to initiating the new work, Guadalajara City Hall announced the purchase of a statue of a paloma (dove) by noted artist and architect Luis Barragan. It will be erected at a “mini glorieta” on the new stretch of the Paseo at the intersection of 16 de Septiembre, Leandro Valle and Colegiales.
In other news, Guadalajara Mayor Pablo Lemus announced that a carousel will be set up permanently on the Paseo Alcalde from December 1. A big hit over the Christmas period, the attraction will be able to carry 50 to 70 people at a time, and be free of charge. The cost to the city will be 25.9 million pesos ($US1.3 million). Councilors of the opposition Morena Party called the outlay an unnecessary expense.