en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Mexican government plans to invest 144.384 billion pesos ($7.9 billion) in the construction and modernization of 2,313 kilometers of the federal free highway network. This plan is part of the government's 2025-2030 investment in road, rail, education, and health infrastructure, announced by Jesús Esteva, head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), at the 25th National Road Conference held in Morelia, Michoacán.
Esteva stated that the planned target of 2,313 kilometers represents an expansion from the 2,220 kilometers reported in the SICT's First Work Report for 2024-2025, submitted in September 2025. Among priority projects, two have been completed, six are in progress, and two are about to commence. Earlier in May 2025, the SICT had announced the launch of eight road projects totaling 942 kilometers across six states, with an investment of 48.565 billion pesos, including the Cuautla-Tlapa and Huatulco-Pochutla projects.
Regarding bridge construction, the official revealed that 618 bridges totaling 160 kilometers in length will be built, encompassing railway bridges, bridges to be constructed by Capufe, highway bridges, and bridges built for maintenance. In the vehicular bridge sector, 23 projects are underway with an investment of 23.578 billion pesos, covering 36 kilometers, of which 8 have been completed, 10 are still under construction, and 5 will commence this year.
In terms of highway modernization, the SICT is upgrading 18 highways totaling 802 kilometers through a mixed investment of 100.631 billion pesos, with 4 completed, 10 in progress, and 4 about to start. Regarding Michoacán, Esteva stated that the president has requested acceleration of the construction progress on related highways, which are part of the "Peace and Justice for Michoacán" plan.
In the highway maintenance sector, the SICT plans a historic investment of 50 billion pesos this year. Currently, 2,875 kilometers have been repaved, benefiting 50 million people; 45,378 kilometers of pothole repairs have been completed, benefiting 126 million people. The repaved mileage is nearly double the 1,572 kilometers reported in the September 2025 report, while the pothole repair mileage is roughly on par with the 45,465 kilometers recorded then. Additionally, between 2025 and 2026, 522 manual roads totaling 1,268 kilometers will be built, with an investment of 8.563 billion pesos.
On the railway front, the first phase of investment involves four lines already under construction, totaling 787 kilometers, including AIFA-Pachuca, Mexico City-Querétaro, Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo, and Querétaro-Irapuato. The second phase, still in the technical study stage, plans to add three lines: Querétaro-San Luis Potosí (SLP), Irapuato-Guadalajara, and SLP-Saltillo, totaling 1,336 kilometers. Esteva also added that the "Insurgente" train has transported over 6 million passengers since its launch, and the Felipe Ángeles train has carried 2 million passengers.
In educational infrastructure, the SICT will build 19 technical high schools across 15 states in 2026, along with a campus of the National Polytechnic Institute in Tlaxcala. In the healthcare sector, construction will begin in 2026 on 9 of the 43 planned IMSS Child Education and Care Centers (CECI), with an investment of 1.98 billion pesos, capable of accommodating 6,160 children across 40 municipalities in 17 states. Additionally, 22 medical units will be built with an investment of 13.46 billion pesos, including 7 for primary care, 14 for secondary care, and 1 for tertiary care.
Esteva reiterated that between 2025 and 2030, public investment in road, education, and sports infrastructure will reach 504.98 million pesos, along with 100.631 million pesos in mixed highway investment. All projects under the six-year term are expected to create 3,986,382 direct and indirect jobs.
