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

  • Italy's construction equipment sales fall
    May 4, 2012
    Italy’s construction equipment manufacturer’s association says that 2010 was a tough year for its members. During 2010 equipment sales in Italy dropped 5.3% from 2009, itself a bad year. This data comes from a survey by research specialist Cribis D&B, which investigated the sector for Unacea. The Italian construction equipment manufacturers say that machine sales were worth some €2.3 million in the period, a drop of 47% compared to the peak year 2008. As regards the different sub-sectors, earthmoving machin
    Read More
  • Safer roads needed for the gig economy
    May 14, 2019
    Roads everywhere are becoming high-pressure workplaces for millions of gig economy workers, meaning traffic police need a new way to regulate how highways are used. Geoff Hadwick reports from Manchester, UK The way in which the world’s highways are designed, built and used needs to change fast as the gig economy becomes a global phenomenon. Millions of low-paid and badly-trained freelance drivers are now using road as their workplace, all of them working hard under huge amounts of pressure. The tren
    Read More
  • Importance of continued transportation investment
    May 2, 2012
    The US infrastructure network requires urgent attention - * T Peter Ruane. America's transportation infrastructure was once the "shining light on top of the hill." Major investments in a national highway, bridge, transit, airport, port and waterway system during the 20th century paid great dividends. The free and efficient flow of goods and people across the 50 states led to unparalleled economic expansion. The mobility and prosperity resulting from an interconnected infrastructure was a model for the world
    Read More
  • “Sorry honey, I have to run”, or how to enjoy a Bauma exhibition
    March 11, 2015
    When you have only a limited time to visit a large exhibition, such as Bauma in Munich, Germany, you have to move fast to touch base with all people you need to see. There is a video that shows how one man -- obviously he was in training for a while – made the most of his less than 3 minutes at Bauma. The video reminds World Highways’ editorial director Geoff Hadwick that he has been there and done that… in his younger days, at least.
    Read More

Highlighted Content