Government inaugurated works on Route No. 8 to promote productive development and road safety
The works to double the lane of Route No. 8 in the department of Canelones were inaugurated in the presence of the President of the Republic, Luis Lacalle Pou. The project’s investment was over 55,000,000 dollars and also involved the construction of an interchange, new bridges and an overpass. The president assured that the improvements will have an impact on the development of the area and vehicular traffic.
At the event, held at a rest stop near the town of Soca, Lacalle Pou praised the road works carried out in Canelones and highlighted the social and productive network that characterizes the department. The transit routes presented will generate development in the area and will affect traffic from Montevideo to Rocha, he specified.
The president said that it is the State’s obligation to plan the construction of this type of roads, since they are essential for people, who are increasingly traveling longer distances. Specifically, in terms of production, he said that it will generate benefits for transportation and economic optimization. “The Government demonstrated that, despite the difficulties, it was possible to manage, collect, reduce taxes and complete the largest road infrastructure project in five years,” he said.
Falero, meanwhile, said that the Government had invested 3.7 billion dollars in works. “There was a deficient situation, which had to be reversed,” he explained, adding that it was necessary to provide the necessary conditions for the road networks to respond to the increase in production and the number of vehicles.
The Secretary of State considered that the Ministry of Transport and Public Works had been efficient in public spending, and that resources were directed towards the most disadvantaged areas. Specifically, he explained that the department of Canelones has received the largest investment in its history within the portfolio, more than 700,000,000 dollars.
Construction work on the second lane on Route 8 involved the expansion of the 19-kilometer section between the junctions of Routes 11 and 9, work completed in three years. In addition, existing bridges were widened and reinforced, and new ones were built over the Solís Chico and Mosquito streams.
An overpass was also built for Route 11, and the section between the aforementioned route and the Soca toll booth, which included the interchange for Routes 8 and 11, works that were opened in 2023. The total investment exceeded 55,000,000 dollars.
