VíasChile, a subsidiary of Abertis in Chile, has partnered with the Ministry of Public Works to construct two tunnels beneath Cerro Lo Ruiz, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion in one of Santiago’s most congested areas by 25%. Abertis, a global leader in infrastructure management, through its arm Sociedad Concesionaria Autopista Central S.A., will spearhead the Modificación Nudo Quilicura: Túnel Lo Ruiz project. This initiative will primarily impact the municipalities of Renca and Quilicura to the north of Santiago.
The project involves the construction of two tunnels, each 1.5 km long with two lanes in each direction, and spans a total length of 5.8 km. These tunnels will improve connectivity between the Eje General Velásquez of Autopista Central and Autopista Vespucio Norte. The aim is to reduce vehicular traffic by 25% and cut commuting times by up to 20 minutes.
With an estimated investment of around 370 million euros, the project is expected to create 620 jobs. The tender for the construction will be issued in 2024, with work anticipated to begin in the first half of 2025. The construction phase is projected to last 50 months, followed by a 25-month extension to the Autopista Central concession, aligning with Abertis’ strategy to invest in and extend concession contracts for its assets.
The project will also include green spaces, pedestrian walkways, recreational areas, viewpoints, picnic spots, and soccer fields. In addition, over 2,500 meters of acoustic screens, 350 meters of acoustic wall cladding, and a noise-reducing structure will be installed to mitigate traffic noise and enhance the privacy of nearby buildings. An emissions compensation plan will be implemented during construction to address environmental concerns.
Autopista Central
Sociedad Concesionaria Autopista Central, controlled by VíasChile, manages the operation and maintenance of one of the main arteries of the Metropolitan Region, which crosses Santiago from north to south along the Ruta 5 and General Velásquez axes, which together total 60.5 kilometers.
The concession began operations in 2004, becoming the first urban highway concession in the Metropolitan Region. Autopista Central is divided into the north-south section, which extends 39.5 kilometers and connects 15 districts of the capital, from the north bank of the Maipo River in the south to the Américo Vespucio ring road in the north, in the Quilicura sector. The second section, the General Velásquez axis, runs from Ruta 5 Sur (Las Acacias) in the south to its junction with Ruta 5 Norte and covers a 21-kilometer stretch.
