| Work Detail |
Construction of a new underpass in Caballito begins: when will the work begin and how much will the work cost?
The “toad” will be built on Federico García Lorca Street, where today the Sarmiento train barrier remains down, on average, about 34 minutes per hour. The details of the tunnel that will be built in Villa Luro
Construction of a new underpass begins in Caballito
Within the framework of the Urban Environmental Plan of the City of Buenos Aires, in the next few days the construction of a new underpass will begin on Federico García Lorca Street, between Yerbal and Bogotá, in the Caballito neighborhood. Thanks to this work, one of the traditional barriers that usually complicates traffic in the area will be eliminated, and consequently, the hundreds of motorists who suffer important daily delays due to the passage of the Sarmiento railroad will benefit.
Under the coordination of the Ministry of Infrastructure of CABA, the first stage of the project will begin next week, the first stage of which consists of a temporary vehicle level crossing on Martín de Gainza Street.
In this way, traffic diverted via Gainza can continue to Avellaneda Avenue and then return to García Lorca, or continue until turning left at Aranguren, since from that point on Gainza is the wrong way. It should be noted that the temporary level crossing will be closed again once the tunnel is opened at García Lorca.
According to the Buenos Aires City government, the objective of this work is to maintain the vehicular connection between both sides of the Sarmiento train tracks once the work begins on García Lorca, which will involve the complete closure of the street and the crossing.
When traffic is enabled, in an estimated period of three months, the closure of Lorca will begin. It will be a “sapito” style tunnel, as the one-way viaducts with one or two lanes are known.
You may be interested in:
The rental index adjustment falls for the first time in 53 months: how much is it reduced and what is owed
According to the portfolio led by Minister Pablo Bereciartua, the construction site will be located on a railway yard that is currently used by residents as a pedestrian walkway; it will be guaranteed that they can continue to use it during the work.
The new underpass will provide fluidity, safety and connectivity to the Caballito neighbourhood, at an intersection where more than 500 vehicles circulate per hour and where the barrier is kept down, on average, for 34 minutes per hour. It will also generate greater safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, avoiding the incidents to which they are exposed at level crossings.
The construction site
The construction site
“We were touring the area where we are going to build the new Federico García Lorca underpass, a project that will mean an important change for the residents of Caballito and for everyone who passes through here,” explained the Buenos Aires City Government Chief, Jorge Macri, when visiting the area where the work will be carried out.
In this regard, the mayor of CABA said that “the barriers are old and unsafe,” and that they also “separate and divide the neighborhood in two.” “Every time we remove one, time is saved for all those who move around the area,” he said.
"These are works that take time and, once completed, improve the lives of all of us because a more connected and safer city is much more enjoyable," concluded the former mayor of the Buenos Aires district of Vicente López.
Sources from the Buenos Aires government told Infobae that the tunnel will have a 3.5-meter-wide traffic lane and a maximum height of 4.30 meters. The estimated time frame for the work will be 17 months, so it could be finished in April 2026, while the cost is around 9 billion pesos - about 8 million dollars.
Ignacio Abarca, member of the Communal Board No. 6, spoke with this media today Thursday and acknowledged that this work “is a possible solution to the great problem that Caballito and the downtown corridor of the city have with the Sarmiento barriers.”
“Caballito is in the center of the city, but getting to the neighborhood or going from Caballito to the rest of the city takes a long time. Essentially, the main problem is north-south and south-north mobility,” explained Abarca, a member of Comuna 6 representing Juntos por el Cambio.
Currently, along Caballito, vehicles can only cross five level crossings, which are added to the Fragata Samiento street bridge. “These crossings are insufficient. And due to CNRT regulations, more level crossings cannot be created in the City,” Abarca stressed.
However, the community member admitted that the work “has some complexities”, which is why neighbors are being called to participate in working groups in order to determine some modifications proposed by the neighborhood residents.
"Some issues need to be resolved at the exit - of the new underpass at Martín de Gainza - because there is an entrance to the garages of the residents of a tower," he said regarding the improvements to be made before carrying out the work.
New underpass in Villa Luro
Render of the underpass that the Buenos Aires government will build on Irigoyen Street, in the Villa Luro neighborhood
Render of the underpass that the Buenos Aires government will build on Irigoyen Street, in the Villa Luro neighborhood
As part of the Urban Environmental Plan of the City of Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires authorities confirmed that before the end of the year they will begin work to build another underpass on Irigoyen Street, in the Villa Luro neighborhood.
The project is located on the border between the neighborhoods of Villa Luro and Vélez Sarsfield, on the street that runs from Rivadavia Avenue to General Paz Avenue.
The tunnel, which will be two-way, will be 7.80 metres wide and will also pass under the Sarmiento train tracks, according to the Buenos Aires authorities.
The underpass on Irigoyen Street will relieve traffic in a crucial area of ??Villa Luro
The underpass on Irigoyen Street will relieve traffic in a crucial area of ??Villa Luro
In this case, the underpass will be open to light vehicles, utility vehicles and public transport. The work is expected to be completed in mid-2026.
"For railway safety reasons, the nation does not allow more than two works to be carried out on the same track at the same time," explained the Ministry of Infrastructure of Buenos Aires.
Currently, there is a level crossing on Irigoyen Street, which is a point of delays and congestion, in addition to the risk of accidents related to level crossings. |
