Just released youtube video of new airport for Mexico City

It's quite a long video, and the beginning is a review of other airports leading to the MC design. It is an extraordinary vision.

The project is estimated at 120 billion pesos.

I've heard several groups are already mobilizing to protest this development.

Quote: Nareed

I've heard several groups are already mobilizing to protest this development.

The Wall Street Journal said Mexican officials don't expect the protests to be a significant factor like they were 12 years ago. They have increased the payments to farmers for their land. The site has been moved so that the airport will be built on federal land. Compensation will be made to people affected by the traffic.

It sounds like you won't be able to get to the new site on the subway. I can't be sure because I haven't seen any maps.

Quote: Pacomartin

The Wall Street Journal said Mexican officials don't expect the protests to be a significant factor like they were 12 years ago.

That may mean officials don't expect to fold up like a cheap suit like Fox did 12 years ago.

There will be protests. You can bet on it.

The new airport will stand on Mexico State, not Mexico City. and due to the placement of the new one, the old airport won't be able to operate in tandem. This means the local city government will be left without that source of revenue, not to mention a large, expensive set of buildings which can't easily be repurposed to some other use (and BTW T2 at the current airport is proven to have been a great waste of money).

Therefore the PRD, which currently owns Mexico City, will back any and all protests, plus set up some of its own.

Quote: Nareed

The new airport will stand on Mexico State, not Mexico City. and due to the placement of the new one, the old airport won't be able to operate in tandem. This means the local city government will be left without that source of revenue, not to mention a large, expensive set of buildings which can't easily be repurposed to some other use (and BTW T2 at the current airport is proven to have been a great waste of money).

The federal district for the USA was a 10 miles by 10 mile square, but only 6 decades after it was created the land donated by the stated of VA underwent "retrocession" and was returned to the state of VA. In the 1920's they built the airport on this land. While our federal district has similar conflicts with the states surrounding it, the airport location was finalized in 1941, and there was few wartime protests.

Quote: Pacomartin

While our federal district has similar conflicts with the states surrounding it, the airport location was finalized in 1941, and there was few wartime protests.

Protests here and in America mean different things. Here protests are the way to advance political objectives. They're very high-handed and mostly unregulated (if you are in the right group). You will recall, I'm sure, the PRD and its allies closed off Reforma Avenue for weeks after Lopez Obrador lost in the presidential elections. That was extreme, even for them, but closing off major thoroughfares, for hours, not weeks, is standard procedure. Nor are the protests about a policy, usually, but about an issue, often a very narrow one.

In this concrete case, the PRD didn't want to lose the airport back in 2001-2, so they staged or supported the protests. This time they'll likely do the same. If they don't, it's because the PRI, currently in control of the presidency, will cut a deal with them.

Quote: Nareed

In this concrete case, the PRD didn't want to lose the airport back in 2001-2, so they staged or supported the protests. This time they'll likely do the same. If they don't, it's because the PRI, currently in control of the presidency, will cut a deal with them.

Construction of airports and runways is one of the most contentious thing in the entire world. The protests in Japan in the 1970's were violent and prolonged when they decided to built Narita. Japan is not known for violent protests. The federal government swore that they would never again try to build an airport on land, and since then they have constructed four airports in the water.

Quote: Nareed

There will be protests. You can bet on it.

Of course. I am an expert on Mexican culture and crime. I grew up watching American made movies. With the sound of Vominous Muchasos ringing in their ears the protestors will die and the smuggled canons will be turned against them as the new Alcade makes a deal with the old. History marches onward, nothing ever changes. Except the commercials.

Quote: Pacomartin

Construction of airports and runways is one of the most contentious thing in the entire world.

You ought to see what happens when someone tries to build a golf course in this country...

Quote:

The protests in Japan in the 1970's were violent and prolonged when they decided to built Narita. Japan is not known for violent protests. The federal government swore that they would never again try to build an airport on land, and since then they have constructed four airports in the water.

Alas, that lake has been dry for centuries... and surely an airport at the nearest ocean to Mex City would require an additional airport to get to the airport :)

The initial estimate of 120 billion Mexican pesos, was revised to 169 billion pesos. It's been less than a week to jump 49 billion pesos.

In September 1989, under the leadership of Denver Mayor Federico Peña , federal officials authorized the outlay of the first $60 million for the construction of Denver International Airport. DIA replaced Stapleton on February 28, 1995, 16 months behind schedule and at a cost of $4.8 billion, nearly $2 billion over budget.
Denver is just now over 52 million passengers, which is the initial capacity of the new AICM with the first three runways.

Quote: Fleastiff

With the sound of Vominous Muchasos ringing in their ears...

That's funny.