The low temperatures on the border with Chile directly impact the conditions of international transit from Neuquén. QFor this reason, the tranquility of Las Lajas is affected by the massive presence of transporters at each closure of the Pino Hachado pass. This time there were 200 trucks those who were stranded in the town waiting since Friday for the green light to continue on their way. Fortunately, this Saturday after 10 o’clock customs reopened.
From municipal Citizen Security, Daniel Vergara, had confirmed to Diario RÍO NEGRO that there were “more than 200 trucks waiting in the town” and recalled that on Thursday “the passage was also closed due to the presence of ice.”
Vergara explained that the Gendarmerie also works on Route 40 and that the conditions of the last few hours are adverse. “They enable us to dispatch trucks in batches, at noon about 80 left for the border,” he explained.
Las Lajas already knows about these situations and the municipality developed a protocol to contain so much transportation in its urban area. «We give numbers to the trucks that arrive, and between the Gendarmerie and Municipal traffic we accommodate them so that they can get back on the road in order,” he said.
Vergara had anticipated that the authorities were expectant of what could happen in the following hours in the event of a possible snowfall that forces the passage to Chile to be closed.
“The Gendarmerie does not want to risk a truck being left stranded on the road, because that would imply a danger and also forces us to deploy an operation that would further delay international transit,” said.
After 10 p.m. on Friday, the municipality of Las Lajas confirmed that in total there were 206 trucks that will have to stay waiting for the pass to open this Saturday after 9 o’clock.
ANDthis saturday morningthe report from the border authorities stated that the pass remains closed to the wait until after 10, Depending on road conditions, it may be reopened. Meanwhile, all the heavy transport housed in Las Lajas awaits with uncertainty.
Finally, before noon on Saturday, the Pino Hachado international crossing was reopened. The Gendarmerie notified Las Lajas and the return operation to the route began. In this instance, and in order of arrival to the town, they were allowed to leave in groups of between 40 and 50 trucks.
Conditions for the rest of the day improved and they hope to keep the border open to clear all the heavy vehicles dispersed in the urban area.
