|

Mérida’s 2nd periférico and what it could mean for the region

Plans to build a second ring road around Mérida have been floating about for years. But now that the initiative has been approved, residents of Yucatán’s largest city and surrounding communities ask, “How will this affect me?”

As they are currently drawn, the boundaries of Mérida’s second periférico ring would surround parts or the entirety of several other municipalities, including Progreso (as far north as Paraíso), Ixil, Baca, Tixkokob, all of Kanasín and the majority of Acanceh, as well as Uman and Hunucmá.

Measures need to be taken to facilitate smoother traffic along the periférico, especially with the growth of suburbs like Las Americas, Ciudad Caucel, Cholul, and Temozón — but not everyone agrees an even larger periferico ring is the way to go.

The second periférico is also intended to reduce traffic along the first ring, which is the stage for accidents resulting in fatalities or serious injuries nearly every day with 284 deaths in 2024 alone, making it the most dangerous motorway in the state.  

In a December 2026 survey of Mérida residents conducted by MetropoliMid, 61% answered that the most likely impact of a second periférico would be negative, with 44% arguing it would lead to unchecked growth and 17% being of the opinion it would end up making traffic worse in the long run. 

Though the notion that building more roads would result in even worse traffic congestion may sound odd, it does have a basis in reality. This counterintuitive effect, known as “induced demand,” arises as new infrastructure encourages more driving.

Historical data suggests that this is what has happened in large Mexican cities like Puebla, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. While Mexico City has also experienced this phenomenon, its implementation of multi-level periférico rings has at least helped to contain some of the effects of building more and more ring roads around the city. 

Plus, despite its brutal traffic, Mexico City has invested heavily in improving its public transit with trams, light rail and even cable cars that turn what often used to be a one-hour commute by bus into a five-minute ride directly over bumper-to-bumper traffic. 

The sheer size of Mérida’s proposed second periférico also raises eyebrows about the potential impact of urban sprawl on wetlands, especially in areas like Sierra Papacal

Though no official timeline has been offered, as the project is expected to be funded by both the state and federation it will likely be completed at the latest by the end of 2030, just before the terms of Gov. Joaquín Díaz Mena and President Claudia Sheindaum expire. 

Read More