Infrastructure projects spark merchant and community protests in Mexico and Chile

In Mexico, San Luis Potosí Governor Ricardo Gallardo Cardona has claimed that protests by merchants regarding the closure of the San Elías-Villa de Arista highway are driven by the interests of a single individual with gas station businesses. The Governor suggested this individual is financing the discontent. However, local merchants report that the closure related to the San Luis-Matehuala highway construction has impacted over 260 businesses, with some reporting sales decreases of up to 70 percent due to traffic being diverted to toll roads.

In Chile, residents of Llay Llay and Aconcagua are expressing widespread dissatisfaction following the removal of the Las Vegas toll plaza. The change has eliminated local turnarounds and passenger stops, forcing commuters to travel to the Ocoa sector and pay tolls twice. Provincial Presidential Delegate Sebastián Caldera stated that the government is working with the Ministry of Public Works to find solutions, noting that previous explanatory meetings failed to satisfy the community's demands for practical answers.