Chilean authorities are reviewing the changes in traffic flow caused by damage on a number of highways in capital Santiago’s metropolitan region, an official from the housing ministry’s urbanization service Serviu told BNamericas.

Heavier-than-normal traffic has been reported on a number of streets and avenues, as drivers are avoiding the concessioned urban highways, such as Vespucio Norte, which were damaged by the February earthquake, said the official.

The increase in light and heavy vehicle transit along certain streets and avenues has forced authorities to start planning rehabilitation works.

“The idea behind urban highway concessions was to slow down deterioration on public roads and reduce rehabilitation and maintenance spending. Now that people are choosing public roads to avoid damaged stretches of concessioned highways, the deterioration of these streets and avenues will speed up. We have to act now to avoid greater impact in the future,” the official said.

Roads in the north and the south of the capital will suffer most, said the official, as highways Vespucio Norte and Santiago’s main southern exit suffered the most damage.

Serviu, the public works ministry (MOP) and local municipalities are analyzing changes in traffic patterns and their effects on the road network to draw up the plan. They expect to have a draft of the initiative in one month, said the official.

Tenders will be held to hire firms to carry out the rehabilitation works, which should begin next year, once the concessioned highways have been fully repaired, the official added.

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