Never before Antioquia was so close to having first-class road connectivity that would allow it to connect with the rest of the country avoiding the rugged mountains with modern tunnels and dual carriageway expressways.
According to the criteria of
The 10 Fourth Generation projects in the department, added to other important works such as the Toyo Tunnel and the Oriente Tunnel, are the goal for Medellín to connect with Urabá and the Coffee Axis in approximately four and a half hours.
This not only speeds up times for private drivers, but also for cargo transportation and for arrival at future ports that Urabá will soon have.
Added to the above are initiatives to reactivate the railway system and strengthen air connections in the region..
Strengthening infrastructure affects business competitiveness and national economic development.
Photo:Archive / TIME
However, in this network of infrastructure works there are several inconveniences that short-circuit road connectivity and that are the responsibility of the National Government.
Mainly they are the 4G Pacífico 1, which is the exit from the Aburrá valley to the Southwest and the Toyo Tunnel, which is the connection between the 4G Mar 1 and Mar 2 to reach Urabá.
In this regard, Governor Andrés Julián reiterated the call to the National Government to deliver the missing sections of the 4G roads to the department.
“Now with the huge cash problem and the fiscal problem that the National Government has, We see no reason why they should not pass us sections like those in your charge, in the Toyo Tunnel, the 3.2 km from Caldas to Primavera, the possibility of connecting, at the height of the Cauca River in Bolombolo to Pacífico 2 with Mar 1“said the departmental leader.
At the same time, he indicated that with the approval of the 2024-2027 Development Plan, there will be resources exceeding 10 billion pesos for different infrastructure projects.
Rendón highlighted an approximate intervention of 3,581 km, the construction of 1,040 km and the maintenance of 5,000 km. of secondary roads. In addition, the maintenance of 10,000 km and the construction of 500 km of tertiary roads will be carried out and the airport issue will be strengthened with the reactivation of 15 airfields to improve the tourism sector.
These are some of the works that would be carried out with the construction of the River Train.
Photo:Courtesy
For his part, Luis Horacio Gallón, Secretary of Infrastructure, stated that there are other major works that are also being worked on, such as the River Train, the second Oriente tunnel and the second runway and second terminal of the José María airport. Cordova.
“With the issue of the River Train, we have not had a good response from the National Government, so the governor plans to make a modification so that it becomes a mixed train. “That during the day it transports passengers and at night it transports cargo,” said the official.
In this proposal, the section would go from Caldas to Barbosa, but it is necessary to find an investor for the project to be carried out through a private initiative PPP.
“But there is also an initiative on the part of the governor that is to lengthen the metro, so that it not only reaches this Niquía, but also begins to reach Copacabana, Girardota, Barbosa and go up from La Estrella to the municipality of Caldas and thus cover the entire Aburrá valley,” said Gallón.
José María Córdova International Airport of Rionegro, Antioquia
Photo:Jaiver Nieto / EL TIEMPO
The secretary pointed out that this does not mean that the project has to start from scratch and clarified that everything that already exists will be taken to make the modifications.
Regarding the expansion of the José María Córdova, the official also indicated that it is not a priority for the Petro government.
“Airplan and ANI have been talking, with the initiative of the private sector and us from the Government, so that they give us the possibility of building that second terminal at least, since we know that the second runway does not have a priority from the National Government and we hope that the next government if it has it,” said Gallón.
Finally, the Secretary of Infrastructure referred to the second Eastern tunnel, which was expected to sign the start of works for March, something that did not happen. “From the Government we are harassing so that it is signed this June,” he said.
ALEJANDRO MARKET
Editor of EL TIEMPO
Medellin
