Traveling on National Route 22 is chaotic. And the difficulties are not only directly related to the endless expansion work (which is abandoned) but also to other factors that have to do with the economic development of the region.
At this time of year, due to tourism, vehicular and long-distance bus traffic increases significantly although that would be within the parameters that an asphalt layer can support.
But the biggest problems are generated by two activities that are directly linked to hydrocarbon exploitation and fruit growing.
The drawbacks Not only do they have to do with traffic, since the large number of trucks makes traffic even slower, but also affects the state of the route itself..
“Unfortunately the the greater number of traffic lights that were installed generates even more undulationss in the folder for truck braking. And the situation is getting worse,” said a police Transit source.
nor the Trucks linked to fruit companies or companies that transport sand for hydrocarbon activity pay some type of canon for maintenance of the route.
Neither no one checks if the load is adequate or if more material or fruit is transported than an asphalt layer can support.
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02-01-23 rock trucks rafts on route 6 paso cordoba
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02-01-23 rock trucks rafts on route 6 paso cordoba
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The asphalt collapsed as a result of the passage of trucks with cargo. (Photo Nestor Salas)
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02-01-23 rock trucks rafts on route 6 paso cordoba
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02-01-23 rock trucks rafts on route 6 paso cordoba
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02-01-23 rock trucks rafts on route 6 paso cordoba
From the National Highway District of Río Negro there was no official response to the journalistic requirements but according to the sources consulted there are no companies that contribute funds to the Nation to maintain or sustain the state of the routes.
“In case of Regina (in the four-lane expansion work) I think it should have been placed in some section of concrete to avoid deterioration but it was not taken into account”said a senior official, when analyzing the deterioration of the asphalt in that area.
Tthere are no controls. The only scale is in Chichinales and controls should be more intense not only in that area but also in the section that connects Cipolletti with Route 6, where trucks with sand pass and then transport the material to the Vaca Muerta area.
“Nation They did not appoint personnel for the control, there are no teams either.the source said.
In the case of the fruit activity, at some point mobile scales worked (in the area near the port) but that was years ago. Currently, the excess weight (established at 45,000 kilos between fruit and truck, depends on the axles) can be paid a fine equivalent to 1,200 liters of gasoline, although from one of the companies linked to the activity they recognized that there are almost no controls on the route 22 route.
provincial routes
The situation is different on the provincial routes, he acknowledged Joaquin Aberastain Gold, secretary of Black River Mining. Currently in the Alto Valle region there are three companies that operate in the transport of siliceous sands: NRG, YPF and Aluvional Rada Tilly. All of them are authorized to exploit up to three quarries simultaneously.
Today, between 100 and 150 trucks travel per day in the section that goes from Route 6 to the western area of the Alto Valle.
bearings use only a section of route 22 since practically the entire journey is made by provincial routes 6 (asphalt), 7 and 66 (gravel) and which are located on the south bank of the Negro River.
“Today they pay a canon (YPF paid one of 50 million pesos). It is measured by the release of carbon dioxide from each transport that is allowed to transport up to 30 tons”, said the official, who stressed that there is a lot of commitment from the companies that pTrucks, aggregates and personnel are available to maintain the roads.
According to Aberastain Oro, traffic might double in the coming years when hydrocarbon activity reaches its highest level.
The problem was analyzed in the work group in which various organizations participates. Progress was made in trying to centralize a communication channel that starts from route 6, in Paso Córdoba, crosses route 22 and continues to the road known as Odelval.
From there that road would be used to the NRG company, in Allen, and to the rest of the destinations located to the west. “A first stage would be to Allen, although the objective is to reach Lake Pellegrini and connect with Route 151,” he said.
Failed payment in Regina
The Regina municipality wanted to apply a tax to companies that extract sand in quarries located on the south bank of the Negro River in this town, although the project that was dealt with in 2022 did not have the endorsement of the Deliberative Council.
The intention was to applyA fee for the use of the raft on Island 58 for the transfer of vehicles and personnel who transport workers to the quarries located along Provincial Route 66, within the commons of Villa Regina and Ramos Mexía.
The raft does not have the capacity to transport sand trucks, which must circulate along Provincial Route 7 and 66 to load and transfer the material used in the fracking of gas and oil extraction wells in Vaca. Dead.
The mayor Marcelo Orazi had In October, the project to create a “tax for the use of the raft on Island 58” was presented to the local Deliberative, which would be applied to companies that extract sand. At current value, the monthly rate would be between $10,000 and $20,000, according to the type of vehicle transported between the two banks of the Negro River.
Specifically with decree 155/22, Orazi proposed that the canon be applied “to vehicles transported by raft and belonging to both individuals and companies that carry out industrial, natural, and commercial resources, transportation of people or heavy equipment, or any exploitation of another nature, that use the local raft service located on Island No. 58, for traffic of its transport or cargo units”
The raft does not have the capacity to transport sand trucks, which must circulate along Provincial Route 7 and 66 to load and transfer the material used in the fracking of gas and oil extraction wells in Vaca. Dead.
However, the councilors did not approve the project considering that another mechanism should be applied for the collection of fees for the use of the pool.
circulation of trucks punt
The circulation on rural roads and Route 22 of trucks with trays loaded with silica sand for hydraulic fractures in Vaca Muerta, generated claims in Valle Azul and Chichinales during 2021, when extraction tasks began in the quarries located south of the Rio Negro in the jurisdiction of Villa Regina.
The protests were raised to the Mining area of the province, which detailed that these vehicles are authorized to circulate on the provincial route.to 66, the 7 between Regina and Paso Córdoba in Roca, and the 6 from Paso Córdoba until connecting with the national route 22to reach the sand treatment plants.
Eventually, in case of inconveniences on the aforementioned routes, circulation was enabled on the section of the route 7 from Villa Regina to Valle Azul, the bridge over the Negro river between Valle Azul and Chichinalesand the rural roads of this last town up to the junction with Route 22.
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