Chihuahua's Poniente 5 road project faces partisan debate over financing

State legislators in Chihuahua are clashing over the financing of the Poniente 5 highway. PAN coordinator Alfredo Chávez said his bloc will push the project forward “with or without Morena,” seeking the 22 votes needed to approve funding. PAN deputy Joss Vega warned that rejecting the plan would keep thousands of commuters trapped in traffic, citing studies that the road could cut daily trips on the Periférico de la Juventud by about 4,000 and reduce peak‑hour flow by roughly 15 percent.

Morena’s congressional coordinator Cuauhtémoc Estrada Sotelo supported the construction but rejected the request for new municipal debt, arguing the city could fund the work without additional borrowing. He rebuked the mayor, saying “if you want to find the one responsible for the lack of works, look in a mirror.” The project’s total cost is estimated at 386 million pesos, with a proposed 150 million‑peso credit and a matching contribution from the state government.

Proponents such as PAN deputy Jorge Soto framed the highway as an investment in the capital’s competitiveness, emphasizing long‑term economic benefits and urging legislators to move past partisan disputes. Opponents demand greater transparency on land ownership and financing terms before committing further public resources.