The events for the anniversary of Catriel also left an announcement expected by the community of that city and the entire Upper West Valley: the reactivation of the works to improve the state of the National Route 151.
The confirmation of that decision was formalized on Wednesday through the national representative of La Libertad Avanza, Lorena Villaverdebut previously there were efforts carried out by National Roads, with meetings within the public sector and also with the private sector.
It must be remembered that During the administration of Alberto Fernández, the national government put out to tender a comprehensive improvement project for the route within Río Negrothat is, from Cipolletti to Puente Dique.
Within that section, the repair and resurfacing of about 100 kilometers was initially planned in 2022, with a certification that had the company Luciano SA as the successful bidder.
That was why the initial meetings had to be held with the representatives of that firm, to find out if they were interested in continuing with the work, after the paralysis defined by Javier Milei’s management for all infrastructure projects financed with public funds.
As reported yesterday from District 20 of National Highways, the construction company expressed interest and that is why work has been going on since the last few days on the redetermination of pricesto adjust values based on inflation.
This process will take several weeks, They admitted from the national organization, but from there they also recalled that in the winter season it is not possible to carry out repaving works, therefore they consider that the administrative part will be resolved in line with the end of the climate ban.
Meanwhile, the Rio Negro delegation of National Highways will advance with maintenance tasks, similar to those carried out days ago on Route 22, near Allen.
The initial tender for Route 151 provided for 106 kilometers of improvement work, with about 30 kilometers of hot patching, sealing of cracks and shoulder roads.
Outside of this process, Roads aims to carry out conservation patching in the remaining kilometers until Catriel.
The underlying dispute between Villaverde and Weretilneck
Representative Villaverde’s announcement also revealed the political dispute around road works in Río Negro.
It should be remembered that the reactivation of the works on routes 151 and 22 was also part of the agenda of the meetings held days ago by the Minister of Public Works of the province, Alejandro Echarren, with the head of Public Works of the Nation, Luis Giovine.
The governor, Alberto Weretilneck, later included the two routes in an interview with Diario RÍO NEGRO as part of the negotiations with the Nation in the midst of the debate over the Bases Law.
However, Villaverde opposes the transfer of jurisdiction of the routes to the Province and Wednesday’s announcement in Catriel can be taken as a ratification of that position, with National Highways still deciding on the fate of those roads.
Three sections and more than a decade of waiting
The total work for Route 151 is planned with three sections. The first two were put out to tender during 2022, with the company Luciano SA in charge of the work.
Meanwhile, a third section that was not included and that has been waiting for repaving for more than a decade, was included in a tender carried out at the end of last year, in the middle of the electoral stage.
The first section goes from Km 3, in Cipolletti, to Barda del Medio. The second reaches Entre Lomas, at Km 109. And the third section of 41 kilometers goes from Entre Lomas to Puente Dique, on the border with La Pampa.
