Mexico’s electorate has nixed plans for the new $13-billion Mexico City airport.
The decision to continue funding the controversial project was put to a referendum and soundly rejected by more than two-thirds of the one million who voted.
About 69% rejected it in favour of a cheaper alternative.
The result is a ‘non-binding consultation’ and President-elect Lopez Obrador, will announce a decision about the airport’s future after he is sworn in on December 1.
He had previously said he would abide by the referendum result.
Construction of the new airport has been ongoing for the past three years and is about one-third complete at a cost of more than $5 billion
The cost and environmental impact of the new airport had become a hot political issue leading up to the Presidential election.
The alternative option is to upgrade the existing airport and another airport located in Toluca, which is about two hours away, as well adding an international terminal at an existing military airbase located near the city.
