New Highway and Social Programs Inaugurated in Mexico

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the final stretch of the Jala-Puerto Vallarta highway, connecting Bucerías to Puerto Vallarta. This significant infrastructure project, which required an investment of 2.24 billion pesos, will reduce travel time from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta from five hours to two and a half hours, and from Tepic to the southern coast of Nayarit and Jalisco from three and a half hours to one and a half hours.

During the inauguration, President Sheinbaum announced several priority projects for Nayarit, including the construction of a bridge connecting Bahía de Banderas to Puerto Vallarta, to be named after renowned poet Amado Nervo, as well as the development of artisanal roads in the Wixárika indigenous region and an aqueduct to provide quality water to coastal residents.

Addressing the people of Nayarit, President Sheinbaum celebrated Mexico’s progress, emphasizing that the country is experiencing one of its best moments. She highlighted the success of the government’s social programs, which have lifted 9 million Mexicans out of poverty and reduced inequalities. Additionally, she noted record levels of foreign direct investment, employment, and average wages.

Sheinbaum also emphasized the importance of the 16 constitutional reforms approved in the first three months of her administration, which have strengthened social justice and democracy. These reforms include judicial reform, strengthening state-owned enterprises such as the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), and recognizing the rights of indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities.

Infrastructure and Social Programs

The Secretary of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation, Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina, provided details about the new highway, which spans 33.2 kilometers and includes 21 structures such as bridges and overpasses. He also mentioned ongoing construction on the Tepic-Compostela highway, expected to be completed in May 2025.

The Secretary of Welfare, Ariadna Montiel Reyes, highlighted the government’s commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable and announced new social programs, including benefits for women aged 60 to 64, universal scholarships, and home-based healthcare services.

The Secretary of Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo, announced significant increases in education funding for Nayarit and Jalisco, with a focus on scholarships and school infrastructure improvements.