Skip to main content

Earthquake rocks Chilean highways

Chile's highway system has fared remarkably well considering the severity of the massive earthquake that struck the country a few days ago. This is a crucial factor in ensuring that emergency help, food and other aid can reach the worst affected area in the south of the country quickly. The Vespucio Norte highway collapsed and while the Costanera Norte route was slightly damaged, the Vespucio Sur and Autopista Central highways were unaffected.
May 31, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Chile's highway system has fared remarkably well considering the severity of the massive earthquake that struck the country a few days ago. This is a crucial factor in ensuring that emergency help, food and other aid can reach the worst affected area in the south of the country quickly.

The Vespucio Norte highway collapsed and while the Costanera Norte route was slightly damaged, the Vespucio Sur and Autopista Central highways were unaffected. Repairs to the worst affected highways, Vespucio Norte and Ruta 5 Sur, are expected to cost some US$200-250 million however. The repair work may take up to 6-8 months to carry out.

Related Content

  • New East Africa highway connecting Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan
    June 8, 2016
    East African countries continue to implement a road Master Plan developed jointly under the East African Community initiative and which aims at integrating the region’s transport corridors to meet the growing demand for road transport by the increasing intra-regional trade and vehicular traffic. Kenya has for example unveiled a US$280 million road rehabilitation project to improve its links with Tanzania and South Sudan with the backing of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Rehabilitation of the 172
  • Are road tolls the economic answer?
    November 12, 2012
    Tolling has been widely promoted as the answer to future road needs by many economists. The fundamental principle of a toll road is comparatively easy to understand: a driver wants to get from here to there and pays a small sum for the privilege. Drivers generally prefer to access roads without having to pay but the sums involved in toll roads tend to be comparatively low. For all but the most parsimonious, parting with a few coins to use a stretch of highway in good order is comparatively painless, made ev
  • Skidmarks
    December 15, 2017
    Our Skidmarks page is highly rated by readers. Your input could help make this page even more entertaining. If you come across any amusing road-related stories or pictures email me at [email protected]
  • Nepal highway subsidence problem causing traffic disturbance
    March 11, 2017
    Subsidence on a key stretch of highway in Nepal is causing major traffic disturbance. The BP Highway, also known as the Banepa- Sindhuli- Bardibas Road, has suffered subsidence on the Nepalthok-Khurkot stretch. The collapsed section measures 27m long and is causing delays for drivers. This Highway is an important route as it connets Nepal’s capital Kathmandu with Eastern Terai. Vehicles have been diverted to an alternative route, although part of the roadway is still being used to carry traffic in one d