Public works will reduce turns on the Farellones road from 40 to 14

The Minister of Public Works, Juan Andrés Fontaine, reported Monday on the progress of the tendering process for the G-21 Highway Improvement Project which leads to Farellones.

According to the Minister, the works On the road, they will reduce the curves of the sector "caracol" of the road from 40 to 14, thus improving safety and travel times of its 31.4 kilometers.

Accompanied by the mayor of Lo Barnechea, Felipe Guevara, the authorities indicated that the initiative proposed the widening of the road platform and the improvement of the security system in the part from Avenida Las Condes to the intersection of Ruta G-251, Valle Nevado.

"This project It was launched in April and has just closed the process.The company that will take over this concession is already selected.This is a breakthrough, as it means improving the G-21", said Minister Fontaine.

In addition, the Secretary of State added that "it allows a route now more secure and with considerable time savings, 20 and 30 minutes at the time the maximum intensity of the use of this route is reached in winter to reach the ski slopes.All that is solved through this improvement, which means that the climb takes place in 3 tracks, the one d & # 39; They are reversible, which reduces the number of curves from 40 to 14. "

For its part, Mayor Guevara said:" I want to congratulate the Department of Public Works for this achievement, we participate in this initiative for many years, hundreds of thousands of people visit this area in winter, but also in summer, it will also increase the income of the metropolitan area for tourism. "

Last October, two offers have been received for the call for tenders from the a section made by Besalco with Mota-Engil and Icafal with Conpax, the latter being the most attractive to the government because it involves lower costs for the state and guarantees higher standards.

This call for tenders will soon be officially awarded. , it is estimated the start of work for 2021 and a construction period, between 4 and 6 years. The project envisages an investment of US $ 97 million with a 45-year concession term.

In this regard, Fontaine explained that "this book, once it has already been awarded, will enter the process of environmental badessment, and then begin construction in 2021. "

" It is estimated that it will require an average of 900 permanent workers per month, as well as workers indirectly hired by the contractors' works, which means a significant improvement in truck access to the mine. Los Bronces, with which we have also improved the safety and efficiency of this task, "concluded the Minister.