Residents Oppose Road Projects Threatening Urban Green Spaces in Dominican Republic and Mexico

Community groups in Santo Domingo’s Jardines del Norte neighbourhood have halted work on the Los Próceres avenue expansion, saying the project proceeds without required permits or environmental studies. Resident leader Juan Cepeda warned that the area is one of the capital’s main ecological “lungs,” housing diverse wildlife and crucial groundwater reserves, and demanded a suspension until technical, environmental and mobility assessments are completed.

In Progreso, Yucatán, locals allege that heavy machinery has cleared nearly a kilometre of protected mangrove to make way for a short road segment, accusing municipal authorities of bypassing required Environmental Impact Assessments. Residents have called on federal prosecutors and environmental agencies to investigate the alleged ecological crime and enforce penalties.

Both protests underscore growing citizen concerns over infrastructure projects that threaten urban and coastal ecosystems without transparent planning or proper regulatory compliance.