City and state officials cut the ribbon this week at the unveiling of a 40-meter-tall monolithic public sculpture that has been erected at one of downtown Guadalajara’s most lethal intersections, often referred to as the “Star of Death.”
The El Palomar monument and its adjacent “Plaza Luis Barragán” (named for the famed Jalisco-born architect who designed the work before his death in 1988) are located on the southern extension of city center’s Paseo Alcalde pedestrian walkway, set to run along 16 de Septiembre from Avenida Juarez to the Agua Azul Park. Although this section of the walkway will be partially shared with some automobiles on one of its lateral sides, city fathers are confident the striking public work and plaza will lure sightseers and give a fresh impetus to this somewhat neglected area of downtown.
Mayor Pablo Lemus has acknowledged that some buses may need to be rerouted since multiple routes cross 16 de Septiembre. He said work will begin next week on the rehabilitation of streets surrounding the Plaza Luis Barragán, with 78 million pesos earmarked for the first stage of the upgrade. He said bus stops will be repositioned and improved, with the safety of the public being the primary consideration.