The management of national routes No. 22 and No. 151; the operation of railway sections and participation in “the decisions” that the Nation adopts with hydroelectric dams which Río Negro shares with Neuquén.
These assignments form the core of the understanding of Governor Alberto Weretilneck with the administration of Javier Milei, which explain -essentially- Senator Mónica Silva’s parliamentary support for the Bases law project.
A vote -doubly- valid due to the parity of the result in the Senate, which required Vice President Victoria Villarruel to break the tie.
Upon returning from Brazil, in dialogue with RIO NEGRO, Weretilneck reviewed “that general agreement” with the Nation, to which, he still explains, “There is still no progress on technical issues”. It also states that the actions and plans are jointly with Neuquén, from the road and railway projects to the shared criteria for the future of the hydroelectric dam concessions.
- twenty
- Years would constitute the period of the concession granted by the Nation to Río Negro for routes No. 22 and No. 151.
- 30
- The concession for the roads signed in 1993 was years old. It expired last year and the Province has short extensions.
This conjunction with the Nation was consolidated in conversations with the Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos, framed with the contributions and contacts of members of the provincial cabinet with the specific areas of the central State. Thus, the largest participation corresponded to the Minister of Public Works, Alejandro Echarren.
Weretilneck denied that The financial issue would have been the point of the exchange agreed between the Province and the Nation.
A review of the points would essentially be the following:
– Road concessions: The Nation will grant a concession to Río Negro – possibly for 20 years – routes No. 22 and No. 151 for management, maintenance and, consequently, the implementation of tolls. The Nation will conclude the works in progress and resolve the current contractual situations. Weretilneck anticipates that it is a process to move forward and Echarren specified that the Province will soon deliver a “return” to its national counterpart, Luis Giovine to delve into the technical definitions.
-Railway transfers: The operation of its train services – including Viedma-Bariloche and La Trochita – remains active due to the successful extensions of the original 30-year concession, which expired in March of last year. The new deal includes this renewal of use and also adds passenger services to the Alto Valle section, punctually between Chichinales-Cipolletti. It will require an agreement between the Province and Ferrosur, which will continue with the loads. Echarren explains that this is already being discussed with that firm and anticipates a meeting called for next week with their Neuquén counterparts with the purpose of discussing the complementation of the service in Neuquén. The investment studies and the status of the stations are simultaneous evaluations, says the minister.
Upon confirmation of the works that will be completed in Río Negro, Nación leaves problems for the provincial and municipal governments, which are those that are abandoned.
-Reactivation of works: the national administration committed to resuming and completing road constructions, such as routes No. 23, No. 22 and No. 151 (whose restart would be imminent), beyond the promoted completion of the Choele Choel roundabout. This list includes the continuity of the Roca and Catriel sewage plans. Not yet closed, Echarren also seeks payment from the Nation for debts for executions carried out in shared projects.
-Resurfacing of routes 6 and 8. These provincial roads, with planned and legislated tolls, are incorporated into an IDB program for their resurfacing. With incessant difficulties for years, another tender was finalized in February, which was paralyzed. The novelty: its award and execution was released by the Nation.
– Dams. For some time, Río Negro and Neuquén have been asking the national administration for resolutions on the new concessions of the hydroelectric dams, which present contract extensions. Weretilneck told of the security granted by the Nation that will give participation in the definition to the provinces.
