Government says Cuenca-Girón-Machala highway will reopen before Carnival weekend

Transport and Public Works Minister Roberto Luque said Wednesday that the Cuenca-Girón-Machala highway will reopen to traffic February 28, just in time for the long Carnival weekend. A 10-meter section of the highway collapsed Wednesday morning at kilometer marker 22 in Victoria del Portete due to the continuing flow of water under the roadway.

The Transportation Ministry says that the collapses section of the Cuenca-Girón-Machala highway will reopen to traffic on February 28, ahead of Carnival weekend.

“This will require major work to repair the damage and reconstruct the roadway but we are responding to the urgency ahead of the holiday weekend, understanding the importance of the route for southwest Ecuador.,” Luque said following an examination of the damage.

The collapse is being blamed on a reservoir dam failure in the Tarqui valley that sent millions of gallons of water across pastureland to the highway. The Azuay prefect’s office said the flow was increased due to recent rains, undermining of the highway.

The ministry estimates the project will cost $750,000 to one million dollars.

The highway closure is adding “millions of dollars” in expenses to heavy transport companies. “The detour means our trucks will require an additional five hours to reach some destinations,” Juan Ortiz, owner of Ortiz Transport said Wednesday night. “The extra hours for the drivers and the additional diesel will be very disruptive for our deliveries.”

Industry-wide, Ortiz says the highway closure will cost millions of dollars, “as much as $5 million by the time repairs are complete.”

Small vehicles have a relatively short detour around the closed highway section, using the Cumbe-Victoria del Portete Station Road to bypass.