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Mexico City to build complex underground collector beneath Metro line to combat flooding
🇲🇽 Mexico /Disasters & Emergencies

Mexico City to build complex underground collector beneath Metro line to combat flooding

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • - Mexico City will build a 1.2-kilometer underground collector in Iztapalapa to mitigate flooding.
  • The project will run beneath the Metro line on Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza, addressing subsidence issues in the eastern part of the city.
  • Officials described the complex engineering task as a unique and historic infrastructure investment for the capital.

Mexico City is undertaking a complex and significant infrastructure project to combat persistent flooding in the Iztapalapa borough. The capital's administration will construct a 1.2-kilometer underground collector beneath the Metro line on Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza.

This infrastructure will help absorb rainwater; we are in one of the lowest areas, which is why it floods so much here, we are in one of the lowest areas.

— Clara BrugadaExplaining the need for the new collector during a tour of hydraulic infrastructure works.

Clara Brugada, the head of government, highlighted the urgency of the project, noting that the area is one of the lowest points in the city and has experienced significant subsidence. "In two years, this area in which we are, has sunk 45 centimeters," she stated, emphasizing the severity of the sinking ground.

The Secretary of Integral Water Management, José Mario Esparza Hernández, described the collector as a "very complex" and "sophisticated" undertaking. Extensive studies were conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Mobility and the Metro authorities to ensure the project does not disrupt traffic on Calzada Zaragoza or the Metro's operations. A tunneling machine will be used to create the underpass, which will connect to an existing collector and eventually lead to the El Salado regulating basin.

In two years, this area in which we are, has sunk 45 centimeters, with this I tell you everything, in two years, this area in which we are.

— Clara BrugadaHighlighting the severity of ground subsidence in the Iztapalapa area.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to transform Mexico City's hydraulic infrastructure with historic investment, including the construction of nine underground storm tanks aimed at reducing flooding.

It is a very complex, very sophisticated work, many studies were done beforehand, those studies and that executive project were reviewed with colleagues from the Ministry of Mobility, and with colleagues from the Metro Directorate, because it must be done with much, much care so as not to affect either the traffic that travels along Calzada Zaragoza, or the operation of the Metro.

— José Mario Esparza HernándezDescribing the technical challenges and coordination required for the underground collector project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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