He College of Engineers of Peru – Departamental de Lima bets on a different alternative for the construction of a Central Road that arrive until Huancayo. Roque Benavidesdean of the professional association, explains to us.
Why do you propose this line?
The Junín Regional Government proposed an alternative with the following route: exit to Ramiro Prialé avenue, enter through Huaycán to reach Tinajas, which is the avenue that leaves Cieneguilla, and then return to the Pachachaca area before La Oroya. That is a variant of more than 50 kilometers of distance in addition to what the Central Highway is today in length. The Regional Government of Lima, however, proposes a different alternative: the road that leaves La Chutana, 40 kilometers south of Lima, passes through a cloverleaf and exits through the entire La Chutana ravine, to reach Pachacayo, an area which is between La Oroya and Jauja. This is a shorter and safer path.
What is the main advantage of the proposal of the Regional Government of Lima, which you support?
The main advantage is that the city of Huancayo is the central city of Peru, and that this road without having to go through La Oroya, reaches Huancayo much faster. That is a virtue. There are people who defend the highway of the Regional Government of Junín, who say that it is essential that the production of the jungle of Cerro de Pasco go down the Central Highway; but they have other alternatives: the Huaura, Canta and Huaral highway, therefore, all these roads will have to be strengthened. The important thing is to serve Huancayo.
Approximately how long would it take to travel the route?
This variant takes more than 5 hours to get to La Oroya, while the road through La Chutana takes less than 4 hours, so the distance is much less.
You said that the route you propose could generate better integration with Huancayo. How?
The integration would take those who want to travel to Huancayo, Huancavelica, of course, Ayacucho, much closer. I think Peru needs a lot more infrastructure. When we talk, for example, about competitiveness in this country, we are talking about infrastructure and it is essential: roads, railways. You will understand that the College of Engineers of Peru gives its opinion so that the best proposal is chosen. I have read in Peru21 that the Minister of Transport is going to summon us, we are waiting.
Part of the route of the PMO (Project Management Office) of the French government would go through Cieneguilla or Tinajas. Compared to the route you propose, would it imply expropriations?
Any road contemplates expropriations and the PMO would have to expropriate urban areas in Pachachaca and the Huaycán area. While the alternative of La Chutana must also be expropriated, but the difference is that there are no urban areas and the expropriations would be much cheaper and would have much less opposition. We do not want a social confrontation.
Have you met with the PMO?
We have met and they insist on their proposal, but in the end they are contractors and it is up to us as a College to speak with the authority so that the Ministry of Transport decides what it does.
The minister said that, according to the PMO, the route that you propose through La Chutana could generate more traffic on the Panamericana Sur highway.
That is evident, it would be necessary to promote this highway more, but also the old Panamericana that runs parallel to the Panamericana Sur. The other alternative is to go through a ravine where many mudslides occur.
If the MTC tells them that they are going with their proposal, how long will it take for them to have the road ready?
The one for the PMO would be ready in 2031 and our proposal tells us that we would have a Central Highway in a maximum of 5 years.
Let’s get into the political arena. What do you think of the crisis?
The death of more than 60 Peruvians is unfortunate, and the death of police officers who were doing their duty in Vraem. The protests began saying that Boluarte resign, that Castillo be released from prison, that Congress be closed. It really is not understandable from a constitutional point of view, because from the moment Mr. Castillo decides to commit a coup, it was up to Congress to vacate it.
Do you see a way out?
Early elections. I believe that all sectors have the obligation to make a proposal. I believe that Peru has the capacity to recover quickly, but it is necessary to invest in water and drainage, in essential works. The departments with paralyzed works are Puno and Cusco.
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