Mexicali.- A joint investment of 6,408 million pesos by the three levels of government in infrastructure will be made in Baja California in 2015, thereby strengthening the region’s development opportunities through projects that will serve as catalysts for the economy due to their significant impact, as announced by State Governor Francisco «Kiko» Vega de Lamadrid during the 11th Session of the State Infrastructure Council, held in this capital city.
During the proceedings of this collegial body for consultation, promotion, and analysis regarding infrastructure development in the state, it was announced that these initiatives include an initial investment by the State Government of more than 2,262 million pesos, while the Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT) will invest more than 1,479 million pesos, in addition to investments resulting in significant initiatives being carried out through the five municipal governments.
Vega de Lamadrid emphasized that this funding will be supplemented by investments from various federal agencies—funds that will be allocated to the state throughout the year— as well as investments from private capital through projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, an area in which significant projects are in the pipeline, particularly in the fields of alternative energy generation and water supply and sanitation projects.
Francisco Vega noted that Baja California is one of the country’s most dynamic economies, requiring the modernization and constant growth of its infrastructure; that is why a broad agenda of projects is planned for this year across the five municipalities, which will enhance infrastructure and promote job creation.
«We are going to invest in freight transportation through a new railroad line and the modernization of the Tijuana-Tecate railroad line carried out during this administration, which is considered a strategic factor for the state’s development; we will also be increasing the capacity of our ports, all while remaining fully committed to sustainability,» the governor explained.
For his part, Florencio Alfonso Padrés Pesqueira, the SCT’s representative in the state, said that the federal government, through that agency, will make significant investments in highway infrastructure projects, benefiting various municipalities. Among the key projects are the completion of the highway section connecting the town of San Luis Gonzaga with the Laguna Chapala ejido—located on the Transpeninsular Highway—as well as the El Faro Bridge, among many others that will give a strong boost to tourism, facilitate the transport of goods, save time, and improve safety, etc.
At the meeting, some of the most significant projects to be carried out by the state government in each of the municipalities were announced. Among them, the following stand out: in Mexicali, with an investment of more than 288 million pesos, the expansion of the Mexicali -Tijuana highway, specifically the Lázaro Cárdenas-Héctor Terán section; various highway expansion and rehabilitation projects in the Mexicali Valley; the first phase of the Mexicali Stormwater Plan in coordination with Conagua; and the modernization of the Miguel Alemán Bridge (phases one and two).
For Tijuana, with an investment of more than 888 million pesos, plans include continuing the expansion and modernization of the Tijuana-Tecate Short Line, which will double the freight train’s transport capacity; access from Zapata Boulevard to the Puerta México border crossing; the construction of the first phase of the Tijuana Maternal and Child Hospital; and complementary work on the Ámbar Interactive Museum, among other projects.
In Ensenada, with a budget of more than 245 million pesos, various projects are planned to promote sport fishing, coastal fishing, and the fishing industry; the construction of the new Criminal Justice Center; and the renovation of the El Cielo Hall and Planetarium at the Caracol Museum. In Playas de Rosarito, with 200 million pesos, the expansion of the Machado Bridge and the construction of the Sharp-Convention Center link; and in Tecate, with more than 172 million pesos, the second phase of urban improvement projects—part of the «Tecate Pueblo Mágico» initiative—the construction of the Tecate Criminal Justice Center, as well as projects related to the Tecate River Park and urban land reclamation, among others.
The event was attended by representatives from the federal and state governments and the five municipal governments, as well as members of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) and the Mexican Chamber of Industry and Construction (CMIC).
