One week after the closing of the pAso Christ the Redeemer due to the heavy snowfall that occurred in Mendozathe highway authorities of Argentina and Chili They agreed that the road will continue to be closed during the day on Sunday, June 16. Although work was done to clear national routes No. 7 (Argentine side) and No. 60 (Chilean side), snowfall is expected to continue in the coming days.
Through a statement issued by the National Border Directorate, it was confirmed that “the international crossing will remain closed for all types of vehicles.” In parallel, they could not specify when the passage would be enabled again, since from the National Meteorological Service (SMN) They predicted new snowfall starting Monday.
“The roads of both countries are working on clearing national routes 7 and 60 to achieve their passability,” they noted in the letter, stating that “although progress has been significant, large snowfalls have been recorded on one of the sheds, especially on the Chilean side.”
According to information published by the local newspaper MDZ, the authorities explained that the fall of snow caused a setback in the plans by pointing out that “it prevents achieving full passability of the corridor for Sunday.” Likewise, they recommended that users inform themselves about the state of the weather, routes and border crossings before embarking on a trip to the high mountains.
Last Friday, the general coordinator of the Christ the Redeemer International Crossing System (PISCR), Justo José Bascolo, anticipated that “progress will be evaluated to have a clearer picture regarding the passability of the international corridor.” They even reported that in the area there was an accumulation of snow that would range between 30 and 50 centimeters, although in some areas the height could be higher.
For this Sunday, it is expected that much of the day will be partially cloudy, but temperatures will continue at levels below zero, because the minimum will be -12 degrees and the maximum will reach below zero. However, specialists predicted that levels will continue to decline as the days go by.
In fact, on Monday night snowfall would return in the area of Luján de Cuyo, in the company of wind gusts of between 42 and 50 km/h. At dawn, the snowfall would decrease due to the winds, while the snowfall is expected to intensify during the afternoon/night of Tuesday.
Due to the fall of snow and the visit of tourists to the area for the long weekend, the Government of Mendoza asked to be cautious in planned visits to the high mountains. In turn, they recommended informing yourself about the daily weather conditions and routes. They also recalled that there was already a case of people who had to be evacuated in the Penitentes area.
“We recommend drivers drive at low speeds to maintain control of the vehicle at all times,” they noted, and then underline: “It is crucial to avoid sudden acceleration and braking, as well as maintain correct stability using the steering wheel in case of loss of control.” ”.
In the same way, they advised having a full fuel tank, since low temperatures can lead to a significant increase in fuel during use of the vehicle. Likewise, they pointed out that it is vital to use antifreeze liquid in the engine cooling system and keep the windshield wipers in working order.
Finally, the authorities stressed the obligation to drive with chains on vehicles, because it is the only safety element capable of ensuring the traction of the tires during circulation. In addition, they recommended carrying an emergency kit, an extra coat, supplies of hot and cold liquids, and food, in case you find yourself in risky situations.
