The end of the summer season is just around the corner and with it a massive return of holidaymakers to the capital is expected during this weekend. Given this scenario, the Undersecretary of Public Works, Cristóbal Leturia, advised citizens to take the corresponding measures to avoid major congestion on the routes.
“For this weekend, the last of the summer, it is projected that there will be a massive movement on all the roads of the country. Only on the highways entering the Metropolitan Region it is estimated that approximately 350,000 vehicles will enter during the weekend,” Leturia said.
“This is a greater amount than what happens on other weekends during the year, so it is expected that there will be crowds. Therefore, the main call to users is that those who can, plan their trip. Before 4 p.m. on Sunday, minor flows are expected and therefore, a more expeditious trip,” the authority added.
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According to the authorities, 335,000 vehicles left on average during the five weekends of January, meaning that 3,166,385 vehicles migrated from the Metropolitan region during the first month of the year.
In February the trend was maintained, although it fell to 330 thousand vehicles. Under that line, it is that from the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) in conjunction with Carabineros and the concessionaires planned a series of measures that will govern from this Saturday, February 26.
“We have taken all the measures that allow us to alleviate congestion, such as the use of manual toll collectors, the authorization of more collection booths and measures such as 3×1 on routes 68 and 78, toll at a thousand pesos on routes 5 South, 68 and 78, and reduced toll for trucks of two or more axles during the night,” said the undersecretary.
In addition, he called on people to make sure with the basic measures in this type of trips, such as having the load before traveling; check the vehicle and have cash.
Lieutenant Colonel Estrella Sotelo of the Prefecture of Traffic and Roads of the Carabineros said that the institution will have services in “all routes and highways nationwide and especially in the Metropolitan Region.”
“We currently have air patrols and also motorized patrols that are accounting for vehicular flows,” he added.
Measurement
Different measures will be established on four routes.
Route 5 South Santiago-Talca
Saturday, February 26. Between 08:00 and 12:00 hours, toll a thousand pesos in Angustura toll for light vehicles, in both directions.
Sunday, February 27. Between 08:00 and 12:00 hours, toll a thousand pesos in Angustura toll for light vehicles, in both directions.
Route 68 (Santiago-Valparaíso-Viña del Mar)
Sunday, February 27. Between 08:00 and 12:00 hours, toll to a thousand pesos in tolls Lo Prado and Zapata, in the direction of Santiago, only light vehicles.
Between 00:00 and 08:00 hours, toll reduced by 50% for trucks of two or more axles, at Lo Prado and Zapata tolls, in the direction of Santiago.
Between 17:00 and 23:00 hours, 3×1 in the direction of Santiago between Enlace Pudahuel (km 11.6) and Costanera (km 9.5).
Route 78 (Santiago- San Antonio)
Sunday, February 27. Between 08:00 and 12:00 hours, toll a thousand pesos at Melipilla 1 toll, in the direction of Santiago, only light vehicles.
Between 00: and 08:00 hours, toll reduced by 50% for trucks of two or more axles, in toll Melipilla 1, in the direction of Santiago.
Between 12:00 and 20:00 hours, 3×1 in the direction of Santiago between Melipilla variant (kilometer 63.3) and Talagante sector (kilometer 39.3).
El Melón Tunnel
This weekend it will operate in a unidirectional manner.
Saturday: exclusive transit to the north. Vehicles heading south must use the Cuesta El Melón.
Sunday: exclusive transit in a southerly direction. Vehicles heading north must use the El Melón slope.
