The controversy caused a video that went viral on social networks, on Thursday March 16, where shows how the asphalt layer of the alternative road to Rosas (Cauca) has collapsedjust three days after the President of the Republic himself, Gustavo Francisco Petro, handed over this section for exploitation.
As expected, the recording provoked strong criticism from the opposition to the national government, for the rapid deterioration of this emergency road.
“This is where the Rosas-Cauca road ended. Only 96 hours have passed since its inauguration and that’s how it is. This socialism with power is a shame (sic),” Senator María Fernanda Cabal, of the Democratic Center, posted on her official Twitter account, along with the images from the road.
While from the official party account Cambio Radical, a group that recently declared itself antagonistic to the current national administration, trilled with its criticisms the state of the road corridor.
“#NosQuedóGrande the crisis in the south of the country and the Pan-American Highway. 4 days ago @PetroGustavo inaugurated an alternative variant at the height of Rosas to alleviate the situation; and today it already has serious damage. “#ElCambioqueMereces” are real solutions for Cauca and Nariño (sic),” they claimed.
Given the controversy this situation has generated, the Minister of Transport, Guillermo Reyes, and the director of the National Roads Institute (Invías), Alfonso Latorre, explained that the deterioration was expected because it is a temporary corridor.
“It’s a temporary and emergency road. Under these conditions, it’s a journey that should last about 3 months until we deliver the final route, which is the connection to the Pan-American Highway. which include a 125-meter bridge and a corridor of approximately 2 kilometers of new lanes with Pan-American Highway specifications,” Latorre said.
The official also He claimed that President Petro did not go to inaugurate the road on Tuesday March 14, but that it was a provisional stretch delivery. He added that this situation being foreseeable, mitigation measures were also planned.
“There is a resolution that reminds that it is necessary to maintain the road two days a week to replace the asphalt and allow the permanent use of the semi-trailer truck that are transported in this corridor. I insist that this is a temporary route, ”said the director of Invías.
They reiterated that in June in this region of the country will again see the road corridor affected by a landslide that occurred in January, which is the definitive solution to the eventuality.
In a statement from the aforementioned entity, they indicated that This emergency highway enabled the mobilization of 6,896 vehicles in this area of the country, including 1,504 semi-trailers with a gross weight of 43 tons.