Chile’s crowded roads face further congestion

Road congestion is a growing problem in Chile as the country’s vehicle fleet is fast outstripping road capacity. In 15 of the county’s major urban areas, the vehicle fleet is growing 10 times quicker than the rate of road construction.
June 21, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
RSS

Road congestion is a growing problem in Chile as the country’s vehicle fleet is fast outstripping road capacity. In 15 of the county’s major urban areas, the vehicle fleet is growing 10 times quicker than the rate of road construction.

This finding is based on a study carried out between 2010 and 2015 by the Secretariat for Transportation Planning (SECTRA). The report reveals that total road length in the cities of Iquique-Alto Hospicio, Greater Valparaiso, Greater Santiago, Talca, Linares, Chillan-Chillan, Viejo, Greater Concepcion, Osorno, Puerto Montt, Ancud, Castro, Quellon and Coyhaique grew by 3% from 25,738km in 2010 to 26,446km in 2015. Unfortunately the vehicle fleet in the same cities jumped a massive 34% from over 1.7 million to nearly 2.3 million. Meanwhile the total distance travelled by cars in 2015 was 32,256,266km, an increase of 79.3% from the 17,983,382km in 2010.

Meanwhile there has also been a corresponding drop in the efficiency of public transport. SECTRA suggests that the city authorities need to start building roads, and fast. At the same time, more and better public transport is desperately needed according to SECTRA. Chile’s fast growing vehicle population has been a side effect of its strong economy.

Highway & Network Management

Related Content

  • Chilean bridge project achieves resolution
    February 26, 2020
    A resolution has been achieved for Chile’s Chiloe Island bridge project.
    Read More
  • Mumbai traffic growth to expand fast
    December 7, 2016
    Mumbai will suffer gridlock in the future unless key measures are taken. That is the conclusion of a new report from the International Transport Forum (ITF). The city could see traffic growth of up to 3000% by 2050 compared with vehicle use for 2015. Meanwhile this massive growth in vehicle traffic could also result in a huge jump in vehicle emissions, with CO2 emissions growing 706% over the same period, according to the report. The ITF produced the report on Mumbai’s traffic issues through the Organisa
    Read More
  • The drive for safer roads around the world
    October 1, 2019
    The world’s roads are dangerous places. Around 1.35 million/year are killed in road crashes, according to data collated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Just 28 countries are rated as having adequate laws covering the five biggest risk factors in crashes according to WHO: speed; DUI; helmets; seat belts; child restraints. Europe has the world’s safest roads, with the lowest level of road casualties/year. Around 9.2 people/100,000 of population are killed on Europe’s roads/year on average. Africa m
    Read More
  • Report reveals Russia requires heavy road investment
    May 18, 2012
    A report by Goldman Sachs reveals Russia’s requirement for further infrastructure investment. The report, Russian Infrastructure and Construction, shows that investments in transport corresponded to 1.5-1.7% of GDP in 2005-2010. For Russia’s total infrastructure needs, including power networks and communications, spending equated to 3.7-4.3% of GDP. But the report shows Russia should allocate at least 3.5-4.5% of its GDP to infrastructure while maintenance of existing infrastructure should make up about 50%
    Read More

Highlighted Content