They open an alternate road of 2 km between Cauca and Nariño for heavy cars

Two months after the collapse, from the Ministry of Transport the decision was made to open a provisional variant to the Pan-American highway. This Monday, March 13, the president Gustavo Petro came to inaugurate it.

For maintenance and security, the new road between Rosas and El Bordo was opened, direction Popayán – Pasto, at 11 in the morning.

On Tuesday it will be from Pasto to Popayán, from 7 am to 6 pm, and on Wednesday it will be closed. These hours may change based on weather conditions.

This section includes the paving of the 30-meter-long bridge that will allow vehicles to resume the path that unites the departments of Cauca, Nariño and Valle del Cauca.

(See: The reasons for electronic tolls to move forward in half gear).

On January 9, a landslide occurred at kilometer 79, in the rural area of ​​Rosas (Cauca), where more than 800 families were affected in the midst of the collapse of their properties or neighborhoods.

The Government ordered that a variant be carried out in that territory. The alternative route and the bridge were subjected to load tests, for which the Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes, announced that it would be put into service last weekend, but the weather conditions have been complex in the area.

This Monday, March 13, the alternative variant built in the municipality of Rosas, Cauca and that connects the south of the country, began operating.

‘Follow’ was the palette that President Petro took at the opening of the new provisional road between Rosas and El Bordo.

The president of the Colombians, who reached the village of El Chontaduro, stressed in his speech that the alternative route was done very quickly, in just 45 days.

(See: More than 20% of Invías roads are unpaved).

“The quality of life is improved through the interconnection that had been interrupted. Now, the problem is reduced to 2 kilometers, this road covers that problem, together with the Pan-American highway to Colombia with the rest of the country, and allows an efficient flow”said the president.

“It is a stage of long- and medium-term solutions, which are more powerful and try not only to recover what existed as a flow, but even to overcome the current levels of connectivity between the south and the rest of the country.”, he added.

According to the president and the National Highway Institute (Invías), this alternate variant It will be provisional for three months. time in which the works of the definitive variant are expected to be completed.

“There will be another route and it is under construction. At the beginning of June we will have a road without these slopes, which are difficult for tractor-trailers, and that will be the Pan-American highway as it is”.

He pointed out that his Government’s commitment is to change the Pan-American Highway to a dual carriageway.

It is about 2 kilometers of connection on the Pan-American highway, including a 30-meter bridge, which will more efficiently connect the region. The stretch has some qualms about its condition, according to drivers.

Due to the instability of the terrain, the variant presents cracks.

The Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes, reported that The final route will be delivered in 2024.

The connection It will be open from 7 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon. and in only one direction.

On Monday, March 13 and Thursday, March 16, the road will circulate in the Popayán – Pasto direction. On Tuesday the 14th, Friday the 17th and Sunday the 19th of March, the pass will be in one direction Pasto – Popayán.

(See: Bogotá, the sixth city in which more hours are lost in traffic jams).

“For the safety of users, there will be no vehicular passage at night, except for the evacuation of vehicles that have been dammed and in case of heavy rainfall, the corridor will be completely closed to traffic.”, reported the authorities.

And on Wednesday 15 and Saturday 18 March the road will be closed to carry out maintenance work and do flattening work on the road, which will be the definitive solution.

Finally, In the event of heavy rains or mudflow in the area, the passage to any type of transport will be immediately closed, this through the early warning system installed at the place of emergency and in order to prioritize the road safety of users.

Regarding the alternate route Depression – La Sierra – Rosas, The General Director of Invías, Juan Alfonso Latorre, affirmed that it will continue to operate for light vehicles of less than 10 tons, at night, and improvement and maintenance work will continue to be carried out during the day to guarantee the safe passage of users .

(See: ‘Tolls must be paid according to the state of the road’, says Colfecar).

The circulation of vehicles on this road is as follows:

– Light vehicles up to 10 tons they will be able to circulate between 6:01 pm to 5:59 am During the day Vehicles will not be able to circulate on this road.

– Popayán – Sitting Stone – El Tambo. Traffic on this road is enabled 24 hours a day for light vehicles, passengers and cargo of up to 20 tons.

– Alternate route San Francisco – El Pepino. Traffic on this road is authorized for light public service and cargo vehicles up to a 30-ton double truck and buses of up to 30 passengers. Vehicle traffic is enabled as follows. In the San Francisco – Mocoa direction from 4 am to 8:00 pm, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In the Mocoa – San Francisco direction from 4 am to 8:00 pm, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Maintenance is being carried out on the unsurfaced section every Sunday.

MICHEL ROMOLEROUX
Special FOR THE WEATHER
POPAYAN