The Municipal Traffic Police (PMT) of Guatemala City foresees complications in vehicular circulation this Friday, July 24 due to marches, caravans and concentrations called by different organizations in rejection of the increase in the price of fuel, which in some cases already exceeds Q43 per gallon.
Amílcar Montejo, Director of Communication at Emetra, reported that traffic authorities maintain constant monitoring of the calls spread on social networks and recommended that motorists take extreme precautions from the early hours of the day.
According to Montejo, a greater impact on mobility is expected from 7 a.m. on the connections of the route to the Pacific with the Aguilar Batres road, the Roosevelt road, from Molino de las Flores to Trébol, as well as in the section between Trébol and Bolívar avenue.
He added that the situation could become even more complicated from 10 a.m. in the Historic Center, where, according to the information collected by the PMT, concentrations could take place in front of the Congress of the Republic, the Presidential House and the National Palace of Culture.
The spokesperson indicated that the PMT will maintain constant information on the development of the mobilizations and the affected routes, in addition to guiding drivers on alternative routes to reduce congestion.
Among the recommended routes are the San Juan road, the South Boulevard of Ciudad San Cristóbal, the vehicular section of the Las Charcas neighborhood, Petapa Avenue, the Atanasio Tzul road, the 20th street of zone 10, the Los Próceres boulevard, the route to the Atlantic, the La Paz road, the Austriaco Boulevard, Elena Avenue and Cementerio Avenue.
The demonstrations arise amid the sustained increase in fuel prices recorded in recent weeks.
According to the most recent monitoring by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), in the metropolitan area the gallon of premium gasoline is priced on average at Q41.07 in self-service mode and Q42.10 in full service.
Regular gasoline registers an average price of Q40.07 in self-service and Q41.08 in full service.
Meanwhile, diesel reaches an average of Q42.26 per gallon in self-service and Q43.19 in full service, exceeding Q43 at some service stations.
Points that could be affected by the demonstrations
- Route to the Pacific and Aguilar Batres causeway
- Roosevelt Causeway, between Molino de las Flores and El Trébol
- El Trébol and Bolívar Avenue
- Historic Center (from 10:00 a.m.)
- Congress of the Republic
- Presidential House
- National Palace of Culture
Alternative routes recommended by the PMT
- San Juan Causeway
- South Boulevard of Ciudad San Cristóbal
- Colonia Las Charcas
- Petapa Avenue
- Atanasio Tzul Causeway
- 20 street of zone 10
- Los Próceres Boulevard
- Route to the Atlantic
- La Paz Causeway
- Austrian Boulevard
- Elena Avenue
- Cemetery Avenue
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