City announces new tram deadline, says system will be fully operational in May

Cuenca Mayor Marcelo Cabrera hopes the third time is the charm.

The tranvía is scheduled to be on line in May 2017.

Following meetings with tranvía project managers, contractors, and property owners affected by construction, the mayor announced that the project will be completed by May 15, 2017. It is the third completion deadline.

“We are aware of the frustration caused by missed deadlines and have been very careful in determining this date. All the major parties in the project say that the new deadline can be achieved,” he said.

Most business owners along the construction route seemed to accept the new date, although reluctantly. “We have been misled throughout the project and don’t know what to believe,” said shop owner Teresa Bermeo. “Our businesses have closed or been badly damaged financially during this process so we hope the new schedule is one we can count on.”

Under the new plan, most work in the historic district will be completed by December 31, the exception being the Calles Mariano Cueva and Sangurima section which will be delivered January 8, 2017.

The city says construction on Av. Las Americas, including bridges over the rios Yanuncay and Tomebamba, will be completed on January 24, 2017. Work on Av. España will be the last section to be delivered, on March 11, with testing of the entire system to begin immediately afterward.

Schedule of tram completion dates

Gran Colombia : November 21, 2016
Patio (depot)workshop: December 3, 2016
Mariscal Lamar: December 31, 2016
Mariano Cueva and Sangurima: January 8, 2017
Av. Las Americas: January 24, 2017
Av. España: March 11, 2017
End of construction: April 12, 2017
End of the testing and public dedication: 13 May, 2017