| Work Detail |
The news reports on the implementation of tolls on provincial roads in Mendoza from 2025, as part of a road infrastructure investment plan. The main points are summarized below: Motivation and Funding: The Mendoza government has launched a plan to improve the provinces road infrastructure. To finance these works, funds from the Economic Compensation Fund will be used, a compensation for the losses suffered in the 1990s due to industrial development in neighbouring provinces. To recover part of the investment, tolls will be charged on some routes. Toll Routes: The first provincial routes to have tolls will be: Provincial Route 153: Connects Las Catitas (Santa Rosa) with Monte Comán (and continues towards San Rafael and General Alvear). The Las Catitas – Monte Comán section is 150 kilometers long and an investment of more than 31.5 billion pesos is estimated. This route connects important towns in the east and south of Mendoza. Provincial Route 171: Links Monte Comán with Real del Padre and General Alvear, with a route of almost 35 kilometers and an estimated investment of 7.92 billion pesos. This route strengthens the connection between San Rafael and General Alvear. Details of the Works: Works on these routes include: Complete renewal of the asphalt pavement: The existing asphalt will be replaced to improve rolling conditions. Safety shoulder improvements: Shoulders will be widened and improved to increase road safety. Installation of new road signs: New signs will be implemented to improve driver orientation and safety. The works on Route 171 are expected to take 8 months to complete, while those on Route 153 are expected to take 10 months. They are therefore expected to be completed by the end of 2025, when toll collection would begin. Benefits and Additional Financing: These works are expected to not only improve the trafficability of the roads, but also increase the value of nearby properties. To offset part of the investment, an additional percentage is planned to be included in the property tax of property owners whose properties have increased in value thanks to the works. In this way, the direct beneficiaries of the improvements will contribute to the financing of the same. Relationship with the Federal Concession Network: Although the news mentions the national governments intention to grant concessions to national routes and move forward with tolls, the provincial routes in Mendoza mentioned (153 and 171) are managed by the province and their toll system is independent of national decisions. The note mentions Route 7 as a national route in Mendoza that could be affected by the national privatization plan and eventual tolls, but this is independent of the provincial plan for routes 153 and 171. |
