Government advances on automatic toll collection for access routes to Santiago
The agreement with concessionaires regarding implementation of automatic toll collection on access routes to Santiago was announced this morning. The initiative, which is part of the Chile sin Barreras (Chile without Barriers) plan and involves replacement of 16 manual tolls, will be implemented progressively.
In the company of President of Chile Sebastián Piñera, Public Works Minister Juan Andrés Fontaine announced an agreement with concessionaires to implement automatic toll collection on all access routes to Santiago.
The initiative, which is part of the Chile sin Barreras (Chile without Barriers) plan, involves the replacement of 16 manual tolls in total and will be implemented progressively over the next 12 months. Work has already begun on the Radial Nororiente highway and the system will be operational in September. Implementation on Routes 5 (north and south), 68, 78 and 57 will begin in the coming months.
“Chile sin Barreras is going to improve the lives of millions of Chileans. First, it means saving time: 4 million man hours here and 15 million once we expand it throughout the country. We will spend that time on what really matters: family, friends, culture, sports, recreation, reflection, and prayer. It is also going to save a great deal of money: USD 150 million during the first stage and USD 600 million once it has been implemented on all of the country’s highways,” said President Piñera.
Piñera explained that it is not just about time and money. Cars and trucks not having to stop “will make our highways safer. These stops cause a lot of accidents. By making highways more free flowing, we will also save lives.”
“Let us not forget that government is here to make people’s lives easier, which is what Chile Sin Barreras aims to do. Every one of our administration’s actions seeks to make Chile a country where people have more opportunities, more safety and live fuller, happier lives,” added the President.
On implementation of the automatic toll collection system, Public Works Minister Juan Andrés Fontaine said, “Sixty days ago, I asked the concessionaires to submit plans to implement this system. We are now doing so on all Santiago’s access routes.”
Minister Fontaine explained that the automatic toll collection system will also be progressively implemented on the country’s other highways. “We are modernizing our highway network, improving people’s quality of life and creating a more productive system that greatly improves the efficiency of passenger and cargo transport around the country.”
The presentation on the progress of Chile sin Barreras also was attended by Transport Undersecretary José Luis Dominguez; Concession Coordinator at the Public Works Ministry Hugo Vera; the Chairman of COPSA, Leonardo Daneri; Chairman of the Chilean Chamber of Construction Sergio Torreti; Chairman of FENABUS Marcos Carter; and the Chairman of the National Confederation of Cargo Transport, Sergio Pérez.
The activity was also attended by the Mayor of San Bernardo, Nora Cuevas; Mayor of Curacaví Juan Pablo Barros; the Mayor of Buin, Miguel Araya; and other authorities and representatives from different highways.