BASIN
Starting this Wednesday, March 2, the Cuenca-Molleturo-El Empalme highway, the main connecting route between Azuay and Guayas, will be closed for 40 days.
From the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works (MTOP) it was stated that during this time the rocky material in the upper part of the slope of kilometer 49 will come off. But the closure was brought forward due to a landslide at kilometer 66 of the same route.
Due to this forced closure, users who wish to go or come from Cuenca to Guayaquil must use the Cuenca-Zhud-Cochancay-El Triunfo road, which represents an additional distance of 50 kilometers in relation to Molleturo-El Empalme, which in time of trip involves a little over an hour of transfer.
On February 21, at a press conference, the MTOP minister, Marcelo Cabrera, assured that the slope at kilometer 49 of the aforementioned route “is completely loose, greater misfortunes can occur at any time.”
Regarding the provision, Patricio Picón, president of the Interprovincial Transport Union of Azuay (Utipa), asked the authorities to guarantee the safety of those who will use this route, especially so that “better horizontal and vertical signage is made from Azogues to Cochancay, because it is terrible for all types of vehicles”.
Although they will abide by the provisions of the ministry, they also asked the authorities of the National Transit Agency to carry out operations against informal transport and that the promise of 40 days be fulfilled.
On behalf of the Provincial Chamber of Tourism, Juan Pablo Vanegas acknowledged that the intervention is necessary, but they “reject” the total closure because the MTOP authorities did not think about this sector, because when the Costa region is about to go on vacation it is for them a “high season”.
Landslides force the closure of the Molleturo-El Empalme route, at km 71
The indisposition, said the leader, is because two months ago the MTOP authorities offered to make a variant in the Molleturo Basin to allow traffic while the works are being carried out, but they never complied, “it does not exist.”
When they travel through the Cuenca-Molleturo they have the option to stop and go sightseeing, but not in the Zhud Cochancay, because of the traffic.
In the midst of this situation are the residents of the rural parish of Molleturo who were offered by the MTOP to open a road through the Migüir sector.
But in recent months the residents and authorities of this town have clashed publicly and legally for disagreeing with the work.
Carlos Morales, president of the parish government, affirmed that the MTOP authorities are more concerned with maintaining the contract awarded directly for $7,301,729 to the private company Sudinco, to stabilize and mitigate the kilometer, than with the well-being of the population, the which, he affirmed, with mingas has already dislodged a part of the material. This allows the conflicting road to be open, except for what happened on Sunday morning at kilometer 62, which was unexpected. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
