“We have been evaluating outflows on highways, mainly to the coast, to the north and to the south. In general, the flow has remained stable and as we had been saying during the week that we were going to have congestion, the congestion was expected and what we have wanted to avoid is major congestion. We have had permanent communication with each of the concessionaires to address this, such as the Lampa toll where we have had high flows to the north.”
This was reported by the Minister of Public Works, Juan Carlos García, who went this afternoon to the Lo Prado toll to take stock of the massive vehicular outflow from the Metropolitan Region on the occasion of the Easter long weekend.
According to information from the General Directorate of Concessions of the Ministry of Public Works, from yesterday, Thursday, to 1:00 p.m. today, Friday, a total of more than 246,000 vehicles have left Santiago and nearly 104,000 have entered. More than 87,000 vehicles have left on Route 5 South and about 56,000 have done so on Route 68 and another 55,000 on Route 5 North.
The points where the greatest congestion was recorded on Thursday’s exit were at the Las Vegas Toll on Route 5 North with a peak of 3,000 vehicles at 3:00 p.m., the Río Claro Toll on Route 5 South and on Route 68 with congestion. during the afternoon in the sector of the junction of Vespucio Norte and Costanera Norte, up to the Lo Prado Toll sector.
The Secretary of State highlighted the importance of the role of drivers in having fast and safe roads, highlighting the commitment that an important part of the citizenry has had to plan the trip, for example —he said— today in the morning we had a 10 % more trips than projected with the toll measure at 1,000 pesos and that helps a lot to decongest the exit. Along these lines, Minister García also reinforced the importance of responsible driving, because “a small rear-end accident generates very significant congestion that affects many people. An accident not only affects those involved, but everyone who ends up being part of a taco.”
Regarding the procedures of the concessionaires in the accidents, the head of the MOP said: “I have asked the concessionaires to have a much more active and also much more proactive role, that they can make decisions, incorporate more tow trucks to remove vehicles , not only light, but also of larger dimensions and that can also act in the sections in which they can remove barriers to enable returns”.
Finally, the Minister Juan Carlos García informed that for the return of the long weekend that will be concentrated on Sunday that: “Just as we said for the departure, we are going to have congestion on the return. We have many more vehicles than before the pandemic, so beyond all the measures that we are going to implement, we also need the collaboration of drivers to plan their return and inform themselves about the measures.”
