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

  • South Africa roads upgrade planned
    March 1, 2019
    Major road improvements will be carried out in several South African provinces. The Transport ministry has set a budget of US$880 million to improve key road links. Some of the projects being handled by the state-owned road company, SANRAL, are commencing shortly and should be completed in the next 12-24 months. One link being improved is the RS573 Moloto Road, which has an unenviable reputation for its frequent crashes. A budget of $217 million has been set for the work, which will include widening secti
  • Developments in hybrid vehicles
    February 27, 2012
    There is an array of future vehicle solutions in development - Mike Woof reports. Ever since Henry Ford's Model T showed that the motor car could provide transport for ordinary people rather than being an exclusive toy of the rich, vehicle numbers have exploded. In every country around the world, vehicle ownership continues to grow.
  • Oslofjord Tunnel closed for repairs for up to three weeks
    May 12, 2017
    The 7km subsea Oslofjord Tunnel in Norway will be closed for up to three weeks after a truck caught fire in the tunnel on May 5. Norwegian media report that a 500m stretch was damaged - tunnel vault, cables, insulation and road surface. The tunnel is equipped with 25 evacuation rooms that can be sealed off from the main tunnel. Each room can provide pressurised space for up to 50 people while a fire is being fought. However, the latest incident has spurred the government to announce that a second tube will
  • Safety barriers improve highway safety
    July 3, 2012
    Highway safety could yet improve using available technology more widely Safety barriers still offer huge opportunities to improve accident statistics worldwide. There is a wide array of products on the market to suit all types of installation and with a diverse range of solutions for each application. Highway authorities have been installing barriers for many years now and the technology continues to improve, however an analysis of accident statistics shows that barriers offer further potential. Details fr