On Wednesday, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) ordered workers to down tools on several stretches of the 111-kilometer highway that runs to the south of the Guadalajara metropolitan area from the Mexico City autopista to the Nogales highway.
Although the project has been ten years in the making, Profepa have suddenly ordered a new hydrological impact study to asses the potential damage the work might have on the Arroyo Los Sabinos in Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos.
Profepa is also concerned at the consequences the new road will have on fauna in the Bosque la Primavera. The libramiento skirts through part of the forest, and constructors have promised to build wildlife crossing tunnels in order not to disrupt the way of life of many species. Profepa apparently now wants an “wildlife rehabilitation center” to be built to attend to animals affected by the highway.
In a statement, Profepa said the decision to halt work on the project was taken in light of dozens of legal complaints filed by owners of land adjacent to the highway that have yet to be resolved. They noted various “irregularities,” including “insufficient methods of disposing of residues generated,” as well as “a lack of defined locations for reforestation.” The state government is duty bound to reforest 600 hectares as compensation for trees uprooted in the construction phase.
Also known as the “Libramiento del Sur,” the four-lane highway will run from Zapotlanejo to El Arenal, bypassing Guadalajara in order to ease the transportation of cargo not destined for the city. It will benefit trucks coming from the busy port of Manzanillo, as well as relieving Lazaro Cardenas and the Periferico ring road of a number of heavy goods vehicles.