Peñuelas mayor: Completion of key highway project has been paralyzed far too long

Peñuelas Mayor Josean González Febres, at right, with Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz (Facebook via Josean González Febres)

By The Star Staff

Peñuelas Mayor Josean González Febres has denounced the Highway and Transportation Authority’s (ACT by its initials in Spanish) negligence regarding the completion of Route PR-3132, a project that he said has been stalled for an unacceptable 20 years.

The lack of progress on the undertaking is significantly adversely affecting traffic and the safety of thousands of residents in the municipality, the mayor said.

“It is completely unacceptable that this project has been on hold since 2005. We should not have to attend a public hearing merely to determine its status,” González Febres asserted this week during a hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “We receive no official information and continue to hear conflicting reports. This level of disregard is serious, and the people deserve decisive answers and action. This is not just a conceptual project; this road is over 70% complete and ready for use. The time has come for someone to step forward and make the final decision. It is nonsensical to keep complicating and delaying a project that is practically finished.”

The mayor also expressed his frustration over the ongoing lack of clear and consistent communication from the ACT. He pointed out that the recommendations he’s received have been nothing but verbal, lacking any technical analysis signed by qualified professionals. Out of the projected 1,000 to 1,500 meters, only about 450 meters remain to be paved, while the rest of the road is already equipped with asphalt, sidewalks, lighting, signage, poles, and other essential features.

González Febres emphasized that the crucial stretch highway provides a safe, direct, and rapid connection between the southern and northern parts of the town, ultimately reducing traffic near several schools, including Adolfo Grana, Daniel Webster and Rafael Irizarry. The high volume of daily traffic creates hazardous conditions for students, teachers, and drivers alike, he said.

“I have personally witnessed ambulances, patrol cars, and emergency vehicles struggling to navigate that area during rush hour,” the mayor said. “This is a critical safety issue. If anyone believes it takes $30 or $40 million to complete it, I challenge you to offer us half, and under a formal agreement, we will finish it ourselves.”

González Febres added that nearly 50% of Peñuelas residents stand to benefit from the completion of the project. Communities impacted by the unfinished road include Santo Domingo, Macaná, Alturas de Peñuelas 1 and 2, Colinas de Peñuelas, Brisas del Guayanés, Reparto Kennedy, Jaguas, Barreal, and others.

Accompanied by two engineers from Peñuelas who provided technical insights into the process, he contrasted their detailed input with the mere oral recommendations from the ACT and Department of Transportation and Public Works, which he criticized as lacking any valid documentation or thorough analysis.

The mayor categorically rejected one of the alternatives put forth by the agencies, specifically expropriation.

“Given the significant investments already made and how close we are to completing this project, complicating matters with expropriation proceedings makes no sense,” he said. “This project is vital for safety, mobility, and effective responses in emergencies. What is the cost of inaction? All we seek is goodwill. We can no longer afford to improvise with public safety. If decisive actions are not taken today, tomorrow may be too late.”