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The Buenos Aires government is seeking to move forward with a plan to eliminate barriers on busy avenues and streets; the targeted neighborhoods
The rendering of the Larrazábal underpass, which the Buenos Aires Government reversed
The rendering of the Larrazábal underpass, which the Buenos Aires Government reversed
After halting three neighborhood-scale tunnel projects due to resistance from residents, the city government decided to change its approach and began studying seven new railway underpasses, but this time at key points in the city, such as avenues and streets with significant traffic flow.
The measure is part of a mobility plan that aims to eradicate barriers without altering the identity of neighborhoods, according to Jorge Macris administration.
In the middle of the year, the city administration had announced the construction of six PBN for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, but in recent weeks it halted the process of calling for tenders for three of the projects. The main reason was the opposition that the initiatives aroused in some neighborhoods.
The intersection of Federico Garcia Lorca at 100, in Caballito, where an underpass is planned
The intersection of Federico Garcia Lorca at 100, in Caballito, where an underpass is planned
Mauro Alfieri – LA NACION
The most visible case was in Villa Lugano, where a PBN was planned on Larrazábal Street which, according to the position of the neighborhood residents, would cause harm to the merchants in the area and would cause a negative environmental impact since it contemplated the felling of 40 old trees.
In addition, the “sapitos” (smaller-scale tunnels) on Ramallo and Correa streets in Núñez were paused, where residents reported that work would be carried out on a green linear park that runs parallel to the tracks. Lastly, the viaduct on Empedrado and General Rivas streets in Villa del Parque was removed from the agenda.
On the other hand, the Federico García Lorca PBN is moving forward in Caballito. At the intersection with the Sarmiento railway tracks, a few metres from the station, work has already begun to remove the barrier from an area with a high volume of traffic and pedestrian circulation.
The Urquiza train barrier, located on the border of the Chacarita and Paternal neighborhoods, at the intersection of Del Campo and Elcano avenues, is one of the projects
The Urquiza train barrier, located on the border of the Chacarita and Paternal neighborhoods, at the intersection of Del Campo and Elcano avenues, is one of the projects
Ricardo Pristupluk
The Irigoyen project, in commune 10, which will also go under the Sarmiento train, is firm. The official explanation in its defense was that the crossing over the roadway “constitutes a point of delays and congestion”, in addition to the problems of risk of incidents.
“Indeed, we have stopped some underpasses because they were not a priority and also because we listened to the neighbors,” said the Minister of Infrastructure of Buenos Aires, Pablo Bereciartúa, to the press accredited to the Buenos Aires Legislature when he went to give the report on the 2025 Budget.
The official, who is in charge of the Transport area, indicated that they will allocate resources for tunnels “that are central to the city” and that are located “on important avenues and streets where it is inexplicable that there are barriers.”
The new tunnels
As part of the mobility plan promoted by the head of the Buenos Aires government to improve circulation, regulate traffic and avoid road accidents, they began studying the feasibility of seven new PBN, whose bidding process will start in 2025 and will require, each, an investment that will range between 7 and 13 million dollars.
"The idea is not to alter neighborhood identities, but to place them in neuralgic points of the city to resolve urban barriers," explained the city administration. The definition marks a change from the criteria adopted in previous years when they added 29 PBN, many of which were built in the "toad" format.
In the next stage, the two priority projects are located in the Villa Urquiza neighborhood, under the route of the Retiro-José León Suárez branch of the Mitre line. One of them is planned at the height of Álvarez Thomas Avenue, which is used by motorists as an exit route from the city to the northern area of ??the province of Buenos Aires. There, during the afternoon rush hour, long lines of vehicles form every time the barrier is lowered.
In recent years, several tunnels and underpasses have been built in the city of Buenos Aires
In recent years, several tunnels and underpasses have been built in the city of Buenos Aires
Ricardo Pristupluk – LA NACION
The remaining tunnel is where the railway line meets Triunvirato Avenue, in the commercial area of ??Villa Urquiza, where there is a significant flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic every day, including both private cars and bus lines. In addition, the train station and the subway line B header meet there.
The third PBN was designed to replace the Urquiza train barrier located on the border of the Chacarita and Paternal neighborhoods, at the intersection of Del Campo and Elcano avenues. Both arteries, which are two-way, are part of the route of several public transport lines, as well as a large circulation of heavy traffic.
The Devoto neighborhood will have a viaduct under the San Martín railroad. According to the proposal, it will be over Chivilcoy, a street that has a central boulevard. Currently, the crossing with a barrier is in very bad condition and receives complaints from motorists who regularly cross it.
Another of the places with a high volume of traffic that was selected is La Pampa Street, under the Belgrano Norte line and Lugones Avenue, with the purpose of connecting with Cantilo Avenue and turning that passage into an alternative for those going north. In mid-October, the city government called for a tender for the preparation of the “basic documentation” of the future PBN.
Finally, two tunnels for the Sarmiento train line complete the list of places under study: one at the height of Avenida Donato Álvarez, on the border between Caballito and Flores; and in Lope de Vega, near the Villa Luro station.
A tunnel for no reason?
Since 2009, the Chacarita neighborhood has had a viaduct that runs under the San Martín train tracks, under Dorrego Avenue. From the beginning, it was considered key to connect with Villa Crespo. However, with the elevation of the railway line, it became obsolete since the road surface was cleared.
Little by little, the residents stopped walking through the tunnel and started going above, where an informal crossing was created, without signs or lights. In response to this, Commune 15 began work to facilitate pedestrian traffic with improvements to the surroundings. At the same time, it announced that it will also open a street for the circulation of cars.
The measure caused confusion among the residents of the area who asked if the viaduct was going to be closed or “covered”. The response from the Municipality was that both mobility options would coexist. |
