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Megan Drillinger
It took me an hour to get 12 miles into Cancun.
About a month ago, I was visiting a new all-inclusive resort 12 miles south of the Cancun airport. My departure date, I thought, was just enough time to get to the airport and security. Instead, I ended up racing home in time.
My story in Cancun is not unique these days. Actually, my story isn’t that bad. During the holiday season, it wasn’t uncommon to see passengers abandoning their shuttles and running down the road to the airport. Because — ironically — the government is simultaneously involved in four major highway construction projects to accommodate the rapidly growing infrastructure of Cancun’s tourist population, creating a traffic nightmare for travelers and residents alike.
This year is Cancun’s 53rd birthday. It is a city that was meant for tourism; However, this level of tourism may have been unexpected. It is estimated that the state of Quintana Roo will receive 20.5 million visitors this year, which is an increase of 4.5% from 2022. Cancun is the second busiest airport in Mexico, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Highway 307, the four-lane main artery that runs the length of Quintana Roo to all the resorts and beach towns, cannot handle the number of visitors. Those who live in downtown Cancun and work in the Hotel Zone and beyond are dealing with daily three-hour commutes.
Something has to change. And it is. But in the meantime, the solution is making the situation worse.
Major construction projects in Cancun include a new bridge, the rehabilitation of Luis Donaldo Colosseo Boulevard, the renovation of Chuck Mul Street, and improvements to the Cancun Airport interchange.
Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard is a stretch of Highway 307 that runs directly past the airport. This project involves the reconstruction of road surfaces with hydraulic concrete. It also includes the construction of two footbridges, adding traffic lights and turnouts.
The road leading to the various terminals, the Cancun Airport Road Distributor, is also under construction to improve access to the terminals. Work there is expected to be completed by October.
One of the biggest projects that Cancún residents are excited about is the construction of the Nichupte vehicular bridge, a 5.5-mile bridge that will connect Nichupte Lake by crossing Avenida Cuculcan, which connects downtown to the center of the hotel zone. Currently, if someone wants to go from Cancun to the hotel zone, they have to pass through the airport or go through the entire hotel zone. The bridge will bypass both busy arteries and create a new route for tourists and residents. This project has been underway since 2022 but is expected to be completed in December.
These projects represent an investment of approximately $400 million.
Until the work is completed, Cancun Airport advises flyers to consider the following travel times.
• Estimate a 45-minute travel time to the airport from the hotel zone, downtown, Isla Mujeres and Puerto Morelos.
• Estimate a 60-minute drive from Playa Mujeres, Costa Mujeres and Maroma Beach.
• Estimate a 75-minute drive from Playa del Carmen.
• Estimate a 90 minute ride from Xcaret or Puerto Aventuras.
• Estimate up to two hours from Akumal and Tulum.
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