The four road works that will change the face of Santiago

Following the recent announcement by the Ministry of Transport to end the time reversibility of the Andrés Bello axis after 40 years of activity, due to changes in the transport habits of the inhabitants of Santiago, it is understood that the works Road networks should not be considered permanent, but they must evolve to anticipate new mobility needs.

Chile is recognized on the continent for having a first-rate road standard. And although we may be against being fourth on the list of the most expensive tolls in South America, no one can deny that the concession model launched a few decades ago allows us to get around throughout almost the entire national territory through safe routes, of course. paved and in many of them with roadside assistance included.

However, all these projects have failed to save Santiago from the road chaos caused by the increasing private vehicle fleet and the large number of housing projects around the city, which generate a constant movement of people in all directions . This is why, even if public transport is already strengthening its deployment with new metro lines and local trains, it is also imperative to improve the connectivity of private vehicles. The four projects that we are going to present to you below are precisely for this… Making transfers faster.

New Route 68 intersection – Américo Vespucio

The “Improvement of the Vespucio Norte Motorway – Route 68 connection” project is an ambitious initiative carried out by the concessionaire Vespucio Norte Express SA. This project aims to optimize connectivity between the Vespucio Norte Highway and Route 68, allowing vehicles to change highways without reducing both the speed of their walking, reducing the congestion generated in this process. In this way, the classic connection cloverleaf will be removed, moving to longer links with softer curves. This will reduce the constant traffic jams produced in this area of ​​Pudahuel by travelers coming and returning from the coast.

Among the mitigation works generated there is also the revitalization of the municipality of Pudahuel, which has historically been separated in two, as Route 68 crosses it with only a few crossings. Additional works include the new Serrano Crossing, an overpass on Route 68 that will connect the north and south areas of Pudahuel. This new road element will not only improve connectivity, but also provide safer and more efficient road solutions for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

Santiago South Orbital Project

The Orbital Sur Santiago highway, with its 24 kilometers of extension in the southern zone of the metropolitan region, is not simply a transport route. This holistic project aims to decongest the consolidated urban areas of San Bernardo, Calera de Tango and Peñaflor, in addition to revitalizing the area by incorporating green spaces and a bidirectional cycle path, leaving room for that in a few decades, when this area of Santiago is more populated, to be able to expand the deployment of public transport.

The route of the Orbital Sur starts from route 79 (southern access to Santiago) at the height of the Río Maipo, bordering its north bank, integrating a new connection with route 5. Then, it crosses route 5 and the railway line through a viaduct, continuing west until joining route 78 (Santiago – San Antonio highway) by a connection.

The inclusion of green spaces and a cycle path aims not only to improve mobility, but also to promote a healthier and more sustainable urban environment. This project reflects a long-term vision for the development of the road infrastructure of the capital, since it is expected that with the opening of the train to Melipilla, the entire stretch from Santiago to Melipilla will be populated and these inhabitants will have to access directly to Ruta 5 or other sectors without having to collapse Américo Vespucio, Lo Espejo or already collapsed internal roads like Calera de Tango.

New Alameda project

The Santiago government’s initiative to revitalize the city’s main axis goes beyond improving road infrastructure. This project focuses not only on the recovery and improvement of public and private buildings, but also on the restoration of historic monuments along the Alameda. With an aesthetic and functional approach, the project focuses on the cleaning, repainting and maintenance of the facades of the buildings from Plaza Italia to Avenida Pajaritos in a project already started and which aims not to let the new scratches remain more than 48 hours before being deleted.

The project aims to increase green space along the Alameda by 8,720 square meters. This will not only contribute to aesthetics, but will also provide more pleasant spaces for pedestrians and drivers with the intervention of approximately 8 km of route where bus stops, sidewalk improvement, improvement bicycle paths and the remodeling of Santiago Bueras Park in the new Pajaritos intersection which will be built at the junction of Av Gladys Marín, Alameda and Ruta 68.

All this will be added to the redevelopment of Plaza Italia, where 230 new trees will be planted, shaded areas will be expanded, the pedestrian esplanade will be expanded and the arrival of the new metro line 7 will be prepared.

AVO II Project

The Américo Vespucio Oriente Concession, Section Av. Príncipe de Gales – Los Presidentes, also known as AVO II, is presented as a high-level highway that will cover approximately 5.2 kilometers. This overall project includes two express lanes with three lanes per direction of traffic, which will be buried under the existing road, developing the tunnels near metro line 4 between Prince of Wales and Grecia stations.

The initiative will pass through the municipalities of La Reina, Ñuñoa, Macul and Peñalolén, connecting the “Americo Vespucio ring road” in its entirety as a highway, allowing Santiago to be completely bypassed without any traffic lights.

Additionally, AVO II includes a series of mitigation works that include surface urban remodeling. This phase of development includes the addition of 62,000 square meters of green space, a two-way bike path and the consolidation of a public transportation corridor in the area.

All these works, added to those already started in public transport, will allow Santiago to continue growing in an orderly manner, since at least two of these works (Orbital Sur and Nudo Route 68) are expected to receive a traffic flow greater than that -this. which exists today, coinciding with the real estate development in these areas of Santiago.