Chile- The Chilean Ministry of Public Works (MOP) is making strides in a substantial infrastructure endeavor with a USD 91 million investment to improve connectivity between Vespucio Norte and Route 68. This project, which began in March 2022, involves constructing a “mill” type interchange to replace the current connection. A notable aspect of this work is the installation of 22 oversized beams, each measuring 35 to 45 meters and weighing 42 tons. This installation process started on April 12 and will continue until the end of the year, with beams being transported from Talcahuano to the Metropolitan Region.
The project, which is now 50% complete, aims to be fully operational by 2025. This year, different sections of the link will gradually open to facilitate normal traffic flow. Minister of Public Works Jessica López, along with other officials, recently inspected the installation of the first four beams. Minister López emphasized the project’s innovative design, which abandons traditional cloverleaf interchanges in favor of a system that allows vehicles to maintain speed, enhancing traffic flow and safety while reducing congestion.
Besides improving highway connections, the project includes expanding express lanes and local roads near the Américo Vespucio axis and developing new green areas, raising road construction standards in Pudahuel. The construction has also significantly boosted employment, with 300 jobs created in the first quarter of this year and expectations to exceed 400 jobs by mid-year.
The Vespucio Norte link project is poised to enhance Chile’s infrastructure, promising smoother traffic flow, greater safety, and economic benefits through job creation and urban development. The collaborative efforts of the MOP and other stakeholders are driving a transformative upgrade to the nation’s transportation network.