The section of the Palín-Squintla highway, affected by a sinking and connects thousands of people and vehicles daily, will be fully operational again on March 31, 2025, as confirmed by the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV).
The Kilometer 44 section of the CA-9 South route, which had been closed due to a sinkhole, has been completely rebuilt. This generates expectation about its impact on mobility, so its implementation will be evaluated to determine if it meets the technical criteria necessary for the light and heavy transport load.
Currently, in March 2025, the portfolio reported that it works on the placement of the pavement layers, prior to the asphalting, as part of the latest arrangements to rehabilitate the road in both directions. In the next two weeks the complete leveling of all lanes is expected.
The sinking occurred almost 10 months ago and forced the closing of this vital route due to the collapse of the affected section. The cause was the obstruction of underground pipes by sediments, leaves and trunks dragged by the rains.
The problem was due to the lack of cleaning and maintenance of the route, after the end of the concession with the Marhnos company. As a result, the 30 kilometers of the Palín-Secuintla highway stopped receiving preventive maintenance.
Until October 22, 2024 a conservation mechanism for the road had not been established. The CIV reported on Wednesday, March 12 that the company formally delivered the administration of the highway in January of this year.
Impact on transportation
The restoration of this section delayed more than expected. According to the trade transporter guild, the crisis caused by closure affected traffic mobility and multiplied logistics costs.
The most significant delays were recorded in the weeks immediately to the emergency and during periodic closures for rehabilitation work.
Since the sinking in 2024, repairs slowly advanced, which led business chambers to demand urgent solutions to mitigate the impact.
Héctor Fajardo, leader of the transport sector, said that the delay in repair generated losses in the guild. He explained that alternate routes were not enough or had the ability to absorb the mass transport load, evidencing the lack of road infrastructure planning.
Since the problem began, the closures and deviations extended the tour of the Guatemala-Squintla route up to seven hours, when he normally took between two and two and a half hours, the carrier said.
The highway is key to commercial transport, as it functions as a logistics corridor to the other countries of Central America, the main export market in Guatemala.
Investment and companies in charge
The section repair at kilometer 44 had a cost of Q59 million and was in charge of TO CONSTRUCCIONES, SA
In addition, the State invested in the repair of two other points on the highway:
- Q10.5 million to Consolidated Civil Works, SAby effects at kilometer 39.
- Q29 million to Design and Construction Projects and works mahoganyfor repairs at kilometer 45.
Road characteristics
The highway will have:
- Four lanes (two in the direction of the capital and two towards Escuintla).
- Central Arriature.
- Overload.
- Gutters.
- Metal defenses.
- Water diversion.
- Conformation of slopes.
Road maintenance
The Ministry of Communications confirmed that since the beginning of 2025, when it assumed the maintenance of the road, the corresponding works began.
Initially, preventive works were carried out in 14 kilometers of the Palín section. For May and June a second phase is scheduled, which will cover another 20 kilometers.
Maintenance work includes:
- Route cleaning and swallows.
- Waste removal.
- Hosts and sinking correction in the asphalt by bump.