Cartagena’s El Pozón Neighborhood Sees Major Infrastructure Investment Under Mayor Turbay
Cartagena, Colombia – A significant infrastructure overhaul is underway in the El Pozón neighborhood, spearheaded by Mayor Dumek Turbay Paz, with a focus on improving road conditions and educational facilities. The initiatives, part of the “Vías para la Felicidad” (Paths for Happiness) program, aim to address long-standing issues and enhance the quality of life for residents.
Paving the Way for Progress: Recent Roads and Improved Access
On February 17, 2026, Mayor Turbay Paz initiated the paving of access to the Camilo Torres Educational Institution, a 450-meter “T”-shaped project designed to alleviate decades of problems caused by mud, dust, and flooding El Universal. This intervention will directly benefit over 2,000 students and their families.
The current phase of the “Vías para la Felicidad” program includes the construction of seven new streets, totaling approximately 2.7 kilometers of new roadways Caracol Radio. These projects aim to improve mobility and access to essential services within the neighborhood.
The prioritized streets include:
- Calle 16 de Julio – sector 19 de Febrero
- Transversal 72 (Los Palenqueros) – sector Nueva Cartagena
- Calle parroquia Santa Eduviges – sector Nueva Cartagena
- Calle de la IE Camilo Torres – transversal 55, sector 1.º de Mayo
- Carrera 87 – terminación calle La Cuchara
- Carrera 88 – sector Víctor Blanco
- Transversal 60 – sector 1.º de Mayo
Investing in Education: The Megacolegio de Ciudadela de La Paz
Beyond road improvements, the Turbay administration is making substantial investments in education. In August 2025, construction began on the Megacolegio de Ciudadela de La Paz, a large educational center designed to accommodate over 1,200 students Cartagena Government Website. The facility will also function as a university center in the evenings.
Currently, the area only has a 38.8% school enrollment capacity, with 25,310 students enrolled out of a population of 38,938 children and young people aged 5 to 19. The new college, with an investment of $30,830,574,148, aims to address this gap.
A Historic Investment in El Pozón
With the addition of these new roads, El Pozón is projected to exceed 5.7 kilometers of paved streets during the current administration, marking an unprecedented achievement for a single neighborhood in Cartagena El Emisario Informativo. Mayor Turbay emphasized the importance of addressing the historical neglect of the area and delivering tangible improvements to the community.
“El Pozón is the protagonist of the transformation of Cartagena,” stated Mayor Turbay. “We are dignifying this neighborhood and turning it into an exemplary one where the government demonstrates it is there to solve problems.”