Community
A stretch of the Palín-Secla highway collapsed in July 2024 and, according to the authorities, is close to being enabled.
This is how km 44 of the Palín-Secuintla highway looks this Monday, March 24, which is close to being enabled. (Free Press Photo: Carlos Paredes)
Kilometer 44 of the Palín-Western Highway collapsed on July 13, 2024, during the rainy season, and since then the step was interrupted. The situation has been complicated for thousands of motorists and charging transport pilots; However, the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV) ensures that the five lanes of that road will be enabled during the next weekend.
This Monday, the Minister of Communications, Miguel Ángel Díaz Bobadilla, announced the qualification of the Paso and indicated that on Sunday they carried out an inspection and found that the last asphalt layer on the five lane was placed, which is already finished.
In the place, this Monday, March 24, personnel and machinery are still working, and the asphalt layer is complete. However, the signaling and construction of central ridges are lacking.
According to official information, kilometer 44 reparation had a cost of Q59.97 million, of which 80 %has been paid.
Important dates
- July 13, 2024: Collapse the section of kilometer 44. Until the end of March 2025, it accumulates more than 280 days of delay for effective repair.
- July 16, 2024: An alternate dirt road was enabled, but was inappropriate for light vehicles.
- August 11, 2024: After 57 days of total closure, the restricted step was allowed by a lane, although with warnings about the stability of the embankment.
- March 29 or 30, 2025: The reconstruction with asphalt and five lanes in both directions is expected to end.
The total rehabilitation of kilometer 44 is increasingly closer. We continue advancing in the recovery of the Palín-Escuintla highway, a key way for mobility and trade in the country, details the CIV in its social networks.
In addition, the institution informed that during the last weekend they worked in several aspects:
- Total asphalting of the five lanes
- Advances in the construction of the central curb
- Cleaning in process for the enabling of the route
He also adds that during this week they will start with the following works:
- Premarca for paint and vertical signage
- Completion of the Central Arriolate curb
- CUITTAS CONSTRUCTION AND FINAL CLEANING
With information from Sandy Pineda and Óscar García