Roadblock persists on Toluca-Tenango highway in Mexico

Residents from several communities, including San Miguel Balderas, have maintained road blockades for three consecutive days on the Toluca-Tenango highway and the Libramiento Lerma Tres Marías. The protests follow a dialogue with state authorities that concluded without definitive agreements. The demonstrators are demanding improvements to local roads and the construction of a high school to provide better educational opportunities for local youth.

The blockades have significantly disrupted public transportation and daily commutes for a region of over 313,000 people, including Tenango del Valle, Tenancingo, Villa Guerrero, Ixtapan de la Sal, and Tonatico. The interruption affects workers, students, and merchants who rely on these routes to reach Toluca and Metepec.

Economic impacts are expected to be notable, as previous closures of the Tenango–Ixtapan de la Sal highway resulted in significant losses for transport companies. Current disruptions are compounded by roadwork on alternative routes, forcing travelers to take longer paths, increasing fuel consumption and travel times.