| Work Detail |
This phase includes the doubling of the roadway , geometric and structural adaptation of the current layout , the addition of collectors , culverts , new bridges , as well as hydraulic works , signage , lighting, and a redesign of intersections. With a 36-month completion period , this is one of the largest roadwork projects in the province in recent years, aimed at improving the corridors capacity and reducing risks in a section known as the Route of Death. However, the section between San José de Metán and Yatasto Sector , one of the most deteriorated and conflict-ridden sections of the corridor, was not included in the current award. This sector has been the subject of multiple complaints from producers, transporters, and frequent users. The lack of a bidding process is linked to the lack of consensus on the route and the lack of definition regarding its financing, which could fall on public-private initiative schemes. Furthermore, in December 2024, a judicial injunction was filed due to the poor condition of the Metán–Yatasto section , which was rejected by the provincial court and referred to the federal court. The Salta Court of Justice declared the provinces lack of jurisdiction to intervene in a case against national agencies , ordering the file to be transferred to Federal Court No. 2. Despite this, the Court upheld the obligation of the concessionaire Corredores Viales SA to carry out urgent repairs to the aforementioned section. For years, the bidding process for the highway was delayed due to technical and political differences. The project presented in 2016, which proposed a new route without entering the urban area of ??Metán, was opposed by local sectors. The lack of viable, agreed-upon alternatives has prevented this critical section from moving forward with road modernization plans. With the start of construction on the Rosario de la Frontera–Yatasto section, a substantial improvement in connectivity and road safety is expected in southern Salta. However, the postponement of the Metán–Yatasto section continues to raise concerns, especially in an area with high traffic density and significant logistical, productive, and tourism demands. |
