2024-08-20 18:58:33
He Ministry of Communications of Guatemala issued a statement reporting on the Progress at km 44 of the Palín-Escuintla highway and the phase two works that remains to be done. The information shared details that the two lanes previously enabled now operate in both directions continuously.
These are the advances in km 44 of the Palín-Escuintla highway announced by the Ministry of Communications
He Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing ―CIV― announced on August 20 that the The passage on the Palín-Escuintla highway has been enabled in both directionsalways in the two central lanes, but now in continuous formIt should be noted that these two lanes had been previously enabled, but only allowed intermittent vehicular traffic, alternating every 20 minutes in each direction.
According to PROVIAL, the Restrictions on heavy transport The regulations are as follows: vehicles with less than 6 axles and a single trailer can travel if they are going from south to north, while vehicles with a maximum of 3 axles are allowed from north to south. Vehicles that need to go to the south of the country and do not meet these requirements can use the old Palín highway.
In the official statement, the CIV urged drivers to moderate their speed, respect the signs and follow the instructions of the staff of the General Directorate of Protection and Road Safety (Provial) to ensure the safety of all users.
These are the works of the second phase
Although the opening of the two lanes is an important step forward, the work on the kilometer 44 of the Pacific Route have not yet been completed. The phase of The project will focus on the restoration of the two remaining lanes. The pending tasks include the completion of the controlled filling, its containment, the completion of the drainage channel and the application of the hot-mix asphalt layer on the final road surface.
The CIV noted that Decree 16-2024, approved by the Congress of the Republic on August 13, 2024, which authorizes a budgetary extension, will allow for expeditious investment in the complete recovery of the affected section at kilometer 44 of the Palín-Escuintla highway, as well as in the intervention of other vulnerable points identified along the Pacific Route.
These are the works that were carried out in the first phase
The highway closure was caused by a sinkhole recorded on June 13 in one of the lanes at kilometer 43.9, a situation that alerted authorities to the risk of the subsidence spreading. After assessing the damage, it was determined that the main cause was the obstruction of a drainage pipe by sediment, which led to the accumulation of water, saturation of the soil and, finally, the landslide on the south side of the road.
To resolve this situation, deep excavations of up to 24 metres were carried out to repair the damaged cross-section. Additionally, a 50-metre central section of a second collector was installed to improve stormwater evacuation. The work also included the construction of a structural fill, the creation of a temporary rolling surface on the open lanes, and the protection of the slopes against erosion caused by wind and rain, using reinforced concrete at the base of the slopes and covering the top with plastic.
Did you know that the famous reality show Is Shark Tank coming to Guatemala? It will be the first country in Central America with its own version and it will definitely be the ideal opportunity for entrepreneurs to present their ideas to potential investors. Find out how to apply and all the related news at: