Chile sees partial opening of US$175mn expressway

The concessionaire in charge of a stretch of Chile's Route 5 highway, Autopista del Aconcagua, partially opened an expanded 15km expressway near the northern exit of capital Santiago.

The US$175mn expressway is expected to be fully operational by late April 2018.

The newly opened section entails an eight-lane highway for the first 8km which then narrows to six lanes for the remaining 6km, according to a press release from the concessions office of the public works ministry (MOP).

A separate press release from Globalvía, the owner of Rutas del Aconcagua, said the partial opening will reduce travel times between the Lampa and the Quilicura districts in Santiago.

The highway goes between the Vespucio Norte expressway and the community of Lampa, located in the northern part of the capital.

Other works involve the implementation of an electronic TAG free flow toll collection system, auxiliary roads, seven overpasses, 10 pedestrian overpasses and 42 bus stops.

Overall, works are at the 94.3% completion mark.