Police arrest 30 at La Troncal curfew checkpoints; Cuenca-Molleturo hwy. repairs begin; ‘Mega ship’ joins navy; Monay-EISS interchange work is on schedule

Bored? –
(De El Mercurio del viernes, 8/5) Exposición colectiva en el Salón del Pueblo (Group exhibition at the Salón del Pueblo) – The collective show, “Mujer, materia y memoría” opened last Wednesday in the Salón del Pueblo “Efraín Jara Idrovo” and will run during mayo from martes to sábado from 9:00-18:00. 13 artists are participating in the show which seeks to establish a dialogue between distinct visions and aesthetic languages around the memory, material, and representation of women. The digital catalogue is available on the Casa de la Cultura site.

The north-bound overpass (to Azogues) of the Monay-IESS interchange project should be completed in September. The two-year project is proceeding on schedule, officials say. (El Mercurio)

Curious? –
(De El Mercurio del viernes, 8/5) El Mega Buque Jambelí viaja de Asia a Ecuador (The Mega Ship Jambelí Sails from Asia to Ecuador) – The multi-purpose Mega Ship Jambelí arrived from Asia with a highly specialized crew. It is able to start immediately on operations of protection and maritime security as well as giving direct support to other Government institutions. The ship has the capacity to fight organized crime at sea. It can transport at least 3 patrol boats, operate with a medium sized helicopter, and stay at sea up to 40 days without returning to port. Its size and autonomy will allow it to bring logistical support to other units during maritime operations. <So is Ecuador going to start bombing suspicious boats now? Or will this Mega Ship just run over them to save gas?>j

De El Mercurio del sábado, 9/5) El BIESS mantiene su calificación en “AAA-” (BIESS maintains its “AAA-” rating) – The Banco del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (BIESS) has maintained its risk rating at “AAA-” with a stable outlook in accordance with the evaluation approved at the end of abril by the Comité de Calificación (Qualification Committee) of the international firm BankWatch Ratings. This category places BIESS as one of the strongest financial institutions in the Ecuadorian market. This rating corresponds to one of the highest levels in the financial system and reflects a solid financial situation, adequate solvency levels, and stable risk management. The evaluation highlighted that possible vulnerabilities of the institutions are mitigated by its structural and organizational strength. <I think I should Google the institutions my accounts are in, and hope that they’re healthier than CREA.>

De El Mercurio del sábado, 9/5) En 4 meses se prevé abrir un carril de intercambiador (One lane of interchange expected to open in 4 months) – The underground construction for the Monay-EISS interchange is at 95% complete with the whole project at 27% complete. The first overpass in the Cuenca-Azogues direction should be ready in septiembre, weather permitting. At that time, the last 12 girders will be placed, and the bridge deck will be completed. Once the surface course is laid, the phase will be complete. To date, the electric, water, and telecommunications services have been undergrounded; and construction of berms, slope stabilization, and wall construction are advancing. The $43 million project which started in agosto, 2025, is planned to be finished in 24 months with 2 phases. The first phase is the lane in the Cuenca-Azogues direction. The interchanges at Gapal and 12 de Octubre are in the bidding process.

De El Mercurio del lunes, 11/5) Conductor de un bus irá a prisión por manejar borracho (Bus driver to go to prison for drunk driving) – <Welcome to Ecuador – I think this is rare, but it can happen.> The Agencia Metropolitana de Tránsito (AMT) of Quito arrested the driver of an interprovincial bus for driving with 1.6 grams of alcohol per liter of blood. <I think that’s 4 times over the legal limit – correct me if you’ve just taken the driving test and remember the limit.differently> The sanction included 30 points off his license <and that’s all the points you get> and 90 days in prison. Passengers reported that the driver and his assistant had been drinking while the bus was on the road. <How would you like to be riding on a bus with a boozy party in the driver’s seat? After the alert, authorities intercepted the bus.

De El Mercurio del lunes, 11/5) Praparan (sic) obras mayores en la Cuenca-Molleturo (Major construction projects underway on the vía Cuenca-Molleturo) -Major public works should start in early junio on the vía Cuenca-Molleturo-El Empalme. The contract was signed in marzo, 2026, between the Ministerio de Infraestructura y Transporte (MIT) and RIPCONCIV Construcciones Civiles Cía Ltda. <Hmmm – doesn’t sound like a Chinese company.> The contractor will verify the studies, topographic work and intervention of the subdrains in the first months as necessary steps before the construction. Machinery will be stationed along the highway to respond to emergencies especially since rains continue to provoke landslides. Mario Vintimilla, Zone 6 deputy secretary of MIT, said that subdrain work is currently at km. 15 in the El Molino sector and afterwards will proceed towards Cuenca and El Empalme. Topographic work is being carried out at kms. 57,90,92, & 105. In parallel, the last reviews are being done to start work to seal cracks, fill potholes, and lay new asphalt between kms. 7 & 30 as far as the Loma de la Virgen sector to improve travel conditions before the 24/5 holiday. Vintimilla said that the interventions will be at 5 critical points at km. 49, 57,90,92, & 105. The Government has allocated about $21.5 million, proceeds from an international loan from the Banco Mundial.

De El Mercurio del lunes, 11/5) Policía captura a 30 personas durante controles en La Troncal (Police arrest 30 people during checkpoints in La Troncal) – During operations carried out in the La Troncal canton since the start of the state of emergency and curfew, police have arrested 30 people. 2 are considered of medium value due to their level of danger. Of the 30, 4 had arrest warrants and the other 26 were detained for breaking curfew. Authorities also recovered 2 motos reported stolen, and detained 5 motos whose drivers did not carry documentation to drive on the streets. 4 guns and 17 rounds of ammunition were also seized. David Crespo, governor of Cañar, said the results correspond to the operations in the first days of mayo. He said the controls and patrols will be maintained permanently, 24 hours a day, and led by the Policía Nacional with the support of institutions such as the Army.
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Information in this column, including dates, times and locations, is courtesy of the El Mercurio newspaper. Comments between the carrots, or guillemets (< … >), are the personal opinions of the author and not part of the news translation.