Three highway projects will be completed in 2018

By Karla Betania Sánchez Arismendi

Three large highway construction projects, including the Cuenca-Azogues autopista, will be finished in 2018 according to the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works (MTOP).

Transportation officials say that overdue road projects will be completed in 2018. (El Mercurio)

Completion of the projects is expected in February, MTOP says, following lengthy delays due to a shortage of funds.

The projects include the Cuenca-Azogues-Biblian autopista (Highway E35), with a total of 43 Km (27 miles); the Cuenca-Giron-Pasaje highway (Highway E59), with 140 Km (87 miles); and the Sigsig-Matanga-Gualaquiza road, with 89 km (55 miles).

Mauricio Ochoa, zone 6 MTOP under-secretary, said that the Cuenca-Azogues-Bilblian autopista is nearly complete, only lacking the installation of signage and completion of a bridge in Ayancay in Cañar Province. The $119 million project will have 14 pedestrian overpasses when it is complete.

The Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje highway, a $40 million project, is 84% complete, Ochoa says.

Other large highway and street projects nearing completion include Av. Ordoñez Lasso in Cuenca, where  street lighting and the underground cabling are being installed. The Lasso projects extends west from Av. Las Americas for 6.5 Km, connecting to E582 to Guayaquil.

In addition, the Gualaceo-Milagro-Limon road, a 60 Km project, should be delivered in August while the Minas-Tablon-Pucara road, 36 Km, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.

According to MTOP, construction contractors are working at full capacity on the projects.
_________________

Source: El Mercurio