Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Renovations to the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta, which began on May 16th, are scheduled for completion by September 15, 2011. While the area is fenced off to vehicular traffic, area businesses are still accessible.

According to a recent story in VallartaOpina, the Malecón will be widened and become one level, replacing the concrete surface with natural stone; the statues repositioned and will be trees added to provide shade. Plans also include improved lighting, and repairs to the retaining wall, which was audited and deemed unsafe by the Civil Protection agency.

Puerto Vallarta Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz indicated that these improvements were part of a package of projects designed to boost the economy through tourism. Gonzalez noted that the industry has been flagging in recent years, and these developments were in an effort to create an improved image for the city.

City authorities are saying that the downtown area will not be closed to vehicular traffic. There will still be two one-way lanes running along the Malecón.

The 50-million-peso facelift has the approval of the Jalisco government, which is keen for the resort to show its best face for October’s Pan American Games. Vallarta will be hosting the beach volleyball, sailing, triathlon and open water swimming competitions.

Meanwhile, major renovations have started on the five-kilometer stretch of highway linking Mismaloya and Puerto Vallarta.

“This is not just the normal work we do each year to fill in potholes, the idea is to modernize (the road),” said Sergio Carmona Ruvalcaba, state Secretary of Urban Development.

As well as laying hydraulic concrete, the road will be widened to three lanes.