Vialidad

Smoke was visible from several parts of the Guadalajara-Morelia highway

Editor.- A fire in the hills of Jocotepec, between the districts of El Molino and Huejotitán, generated a huge column of smoke that was visible to motorists traveling on the Guadalajara-Morelia highway on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 30. 

On social networks, people commented that there were damaged wire fences, burned pasture and environmental damage, blaming the incident on people who were vandalizing the area.

At this time of the year, it is common to see an increase in rural fires. Some are generated naturally, others due to accidents caused by farmers burning plots of land, or by people who want to subdivide the hillsides. 

Translated by Nita Rudy

Jocotepec access sign is replaced

Alma Serrano (San Juan Cosalá).- The municipality of Jocotepec welcomed the Governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez with a new sign, for his visit to the Chapala Lakeside on March 25. 

Days before, state personnel went to the Chapala-Jocotepec highway at the height of La Mojonera, on the border of the town of Ajijic with San Juan Cosalá, to replace the access sign to the municipality because it was incomplete and with and outdated structure at one of the ends.

Translated by Christalle Dalsted

The project proposes removing paving stone and replacing with concrete on Francisco I. Madero Avenue. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Chapala President  Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel announced that the paving stones  along Francisco I. Madero Avenue will be replaced with concrete  by the Government of Jalisco in coordination with the Secretary of Infrastructure and Public Works of the State (SIOP). 

 The 80  million peso project  includes the replacement of the paving stone with cement, the restoration of sidewalks and curbs (machuelos), as well as a subsidy  to the merchants to  upgrade their image along the Avene.

Laguna surveyed local citizens about their response to the project.  Of twenty-two people interviewed in a survey in neighborhoods in the western part of the municipality, half said they were unaware of the plans to remodel Chapala’s main avenue, Francisco I. Madero.  

While eight of the people informed about the issue were against it, three others approved of the project.

«As long as they do something, they can do it however they want» or «it would be fine,» were the most heard answers during the tour that Semanario Laguna made along the street. 

Two of merchants who heard about it disagreed because concrete absorbs heat, is impermeable and its deterioration is more noticeable.

«The paving stone absorbs water, while concrete does not.  The paving stone can be repaired in sections,» argued the owner of a veterinarian’s shop on the avenue, who also has a background in engineering. 

City workers repairing Francisco I. Madero Avenue. Photo: Jazmín Stengel.

A young pharmacist and environmentalist said that these types of materials «affect climate change.”

Others felt that it is an «unnecessary investment» because the paving stone can be lifted in parts, which makes it easier to repair, while the concrete is compacted in one piece, making the deterioration more visible and more expensive to restore, explained a woman interviewed in front of Chapala’s main square.

The project «looks nice, but the joke is that it lasts,» said a vendor near the central plaza. Her neighbor saw the need to give priority to the street repair around downtown, which «looks like you’re riding a donkey” when you drive down the road.

The poor drainage conditions and the slipperiness of the sidewalk tiles also caused a lot of talk. During the rainy season the drains overflow into the commercial businesses in the area. 

The sidewalk tiles become slippery when wet, which has already caused several pedestrian accidents, according to neighbors.

«They only fix the showy stuff,» argued Carmen’s husband, accustomed to the fact that public consultations on projects of this type are non-existent in the municipality. To which his wife added: «Hold on! The government always gets its way.»

Translated by Nita Rudy

The mishap happened at the entrance to a gas station 

Editor:  A cyclist was left lying on the pavement of the Chapala-Jocotepec highway, after being hit by a pickup truck. 

The victim was riding on the bicycle path in the La Canacinta area during the afternoon of March 23, when he was surprised by a truck accessing the entrance to the gas station.  Apparently, the driver of a beige Jeep-type truck did not notice the cyclist. 

The victim was attended by Red Cross personnel, prior to being evaluated by Chapala Fire Department personnel, while a traffic police officer investigated the accident. 

Translated by Nita Rudy

The pickup truck hit the vehicle from behind

According to the driver of the red car, he was driving along the highway when he was suddenly hit from behind by the pickup truck, apparently due to an oversight of the other driver who failed to brake. His car suffered damages to the hood and spilled antifreeze, while the pickup truck suffered minor damages.

The mishap caused a traffic jam for motorists who were driving from Jocotepec to Chapala.

Translated by Sandy Britton

Del Paseo Street has several streetlights some say it’s insufficient.  Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles(Ajijic).- Residents disagree on street lighting in the La Crucita area, located two blocks from the Ajijic boardwalk. The area has several functioning street lights, but some concerned citizens say there still isn’t enough light on the street.  However, one couple is annoyed by the strength of the existing lights. 

Acting delegado Maximiliano Macias Arceo commented that a couple living at the intersection of Nicolas Bravo and Del Paseo, are disturbed by the lights. «There is a big problem with those people who are bothered by the light. They’ve bought a device to turn off the lights at a certain time, though I believe it has not been used. They were told that they cannot do that, since it is a public road. Other neighbors requested the lights to prevent people from staying there drinking alcoholic beverages until late hours or throwing garbage.» 

Neighbors covered a streetlight on Nicolás Bravo Street. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

People passing through the area also complain about the lack of lighting. The last administration gave permission to cover a streetlight on Nicolás Bravo Street, a few meters from the area of La Crucita, because it bothered the couple in question. It now offers very little light.

In a tour by Semanario Laguna, there were at least four lamps on Del Paseo street and two in the beach area. Despite this, the area is still very dark. Four passersby were asked what they thought of the lighting, and they agreed that it is insufficient.

For his part, Macías Arceo stated that his intention is to put more lamps in the area, since there is a lot of traffic both on the beach and in the street.  After a recent cleanup, more people make use of the space. He also stated that anyone installing a timer would be subject to a sanction. 

Translated by Elisabeth Shields

The bicycle path after lights were turned on Thursday, March 17. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles(Ajijic).- A week after the announcement made by the Chapala City Hall on March 17, another stretch of lights was installed along the Ajijic bike path. 

Two weeks ago, the social communication department stated that the lights would be turned on from Tempisque Street to Villa Nova, however, lights are now on to the limits of the delegation, in the area known as La Cristina.

The bicycle path before the illumination. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Acting delegate Maximiliano Macias Arceo said that although most of the bicycle path in Ajijic is already illuminated, some lamps need maintenance because the photocell does not work, among other minor problems. 

He added that continuous maintenance will be given to both the lamps and the trees. He thanked the municipal president, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, the director of public lighting Gil Parra, and the director of municipal services José Antonio Urzúa Gracián.

Translated by Nita Rudy

Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel junto al gobernador Enrique Alfaro durante la entrega de los 16 kilómetros terminados de la ciclopista Chapala – Jocotepec. Foto: Jazmín Stengel. 

Jazmín Stengel.- Cuatro obras, entre supervisión y entregas son las que presentó el Gobernador de Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, durante su gira por Chapala, acontecida el viernes 25 de marzo.

El proyecto de la ciclovía de Chapala que abarca 16 kilómetros fue entregado de manera oficial el mismo día, frente al parque La Milagrosa. La obra inició durante la administración pasada 2018-2021, el presupuesto total, hasta Jocotepec fue de 211 millones de pesos, aseguró el gobernador.

Enrique Alfaro y el presidente municipal de Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, durante la supervisión de obra en la Telesecundaria Guadalupe Victoria en Santa Cruz de la Soledad, un alumno leyó un agradecimiento al respecto. Foto: Jazmín Stengel. 

Enrique Alfaro y el presidente municipal de Chapala, Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel, durante la supervisión de obra en la Telesecundaria Guadalupe Victoria en Santa Cruz de la Soledad, un alumno leyó un agradecimiento al respecto.

También se realizó la grabación de un video para presentar el proyecto de imagen urbana en la entrada de Chapala, es decir, la obra de rehabilitación planeada para la avenida Francisco I. Madero en la cabecera municipal, cuya inversión consta de 17.5 millones de pesos para la primera etapa y aproximadamente 80 millones más en la segunda. Se estima que la obra tardará dos años en terminarse.

Los dos proyectos supervisados son la extensión de la Telesecundaria Guadalupe Victoria en Santa Cruz de la Soledad con un presupuesto de 12.9 mdp y un nuevo módulo en el Instituto Tecnológico de Chapala, Mario Molina con una inversión ya asignada de 25 millones más 15 millones que el gobernador anunció durante la gira.

La primera etapa de la ciclopista que constó de 8 kilómetros desde Chapala hasta Ajijic fue entregada por el Gobernador en el mes de agosto del 2020 a la administración 2018-2021.

Busca la nota completa en nuestra siguiente edición impresa.

A wire fence was placed on Las Garzas street, located to the west of Ajijic, reducing its width. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles.- Residents of La Cristina, west of Ajijic, denounced the placement of a fence in the creek and in a stretch of Las Garzas Street by the owner of an adjoining lot. According to those affected, the owner of a carnitas restaurant asserts that the stream is part of his property, so he decided to put up a fence to prevent passage. 

Witnesses interviewed shared that the fence was put up five months ago and originally reached behind the trees, a few centimeters from the bank of the tributary. But after last year’s October  landslides, the property owner reinstalled the fence at the point where the cobblestone street ends, reducing the street to an approximate width of four to five meters. In addition, the material of the posts and the fence wire were changed.

«The space on the street has been greatly reduced. Before, two cars could pass each other without any problems. Now, if they approach each other head-on, one has to back up almost to the highway to let the other one pass. Also, if you pass by the creek, the man gets furious and says you can’t pass by there because it’s his land,» said a neighbor on Las Garzas Street.

Neighbors of La Cristina denounced that a private individual appropriated the creek. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

In November 2021 the affected residents, mostly expats, gathered signatures and presented them to the City of Chapala to request that the fence be returned to its original location before the landslides.

In this regard, Ajijic acting delegate Maximiliano Macias Arceo said that he was aware of the complaints and that the report has been delegated to the Urban Development Department for review.

The property owner, besides alleging that he installed the fence to prevent access underneath the bridge and because neighbors throw garbage in the creek, says that the creek is part of his property. “The report is now in the hands of Urban Development, so that they can review the property boundaries and, in case of inappropriate expansion, the department will be in charge of realigning it,» said Macias Arceo.

According to the National Waters Law (LAN), streams and riverbeds are federal property; that is, a domain that belongs to the nation and all its inhabitants. This type of land has a buffer strip that varies from five to ten meters wide, depending on its course. To make use of these lands, a concession must be granted by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). Privatization of these lands is considered a crime.

Translated by MaryAnne Marble

On weekends, some drivers park their vehicles in the pedestrian walkway on Colón Street. Photo: Miguel Cerna.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).– Acting Ajijic Delegado Maximiliano Macías Arceo said the pedestrian zone currently set up on weekends along Calle Colón   will be re-examined because it is ignored and frequently illegally used for parking.

During weekends it is common to see how the walkway, which extends along Colón from the intersection with Hidalgo to the intersection with Del Paseo along the lake,  is not accomplishing  its purpose as it is not respected by tourists or local businesses. 

Macía said  that one of the main problems is the lack of traffic officers to supervise the area. The officers were helping Chapala’s tourism and speeding up the traffic on the Chapala-Jocotepec highway, at the height of Ajijic.

«At the beginning it worked very well but now it is out of control. People shamelessly move the cones and park, and since the officers are usually in the dock area they don’t notice these actions. We are going to talk to the municipal president to take the appropriate actions,» said Macías. 

Cars, motorcycles and advertising trestles have obstructed the designated pedestrian walkway. Photo: Archive.

The interviewee commented that previously a project was being managed to place more solid but removable delimitations in the walkway. These will be delivered to the president Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel to define if the pedestrian walkway will be reconsidered or removed. 

Since the installation of the pedestrian walkway on Colón Street in November 2021, there has been a weekly increase in encroachments by both motorists and businesses. In addition, Maximiliano Macias said that cones have been stolen, because of the 60 cones with which they started, to date there are approximately 45 left.

Semanario Laguna conducted interviews among the tourists who roamed the area, who said they did not know the purpose of the cones, due to the lack of signage of the walkway. Therefore, instead of using the walkway, they transit through the street to tour the downtown area of the Magic Town.

Translated by Sydney Metrick