The El Paseo del Bajo Freeway is a palpable reality on Buenos Aires Waterfront

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Attempts of all kinds were mounted to abort this major work that Buenos Aires City has had the opportunity to inaugurate.

The El Paseo del Bajo is already a reality. The new 7.1km motorway improves the circulation of more than 25,000 vehicles per day and Its exclusive truck lanes allow them to travel faster and gives them direct access to the port. Although it is a toll road there are no booths as the fee is collected electronically.

In addition, 60,000 m² of new green spaces and the removal of historic barriers that once separated Buenos Aires city and the River de la Plata waterfront.

Getting here wasn’t easy. In the years of the 90’s the La Plata-Buenos Aires Highway was to be built and the connection with the Presidente Illia highway through Puerto Madero made.

However, the linkage of these two high volume motorways could not be carried out due to the influence of the Puerto Madero corporation.

Their option was that an alternative tunnel below the wharf area, or take spaces from the port or occupied parking areas or custom depots.

To think that when it was decided to cede Puerto Madero, The transfer was made without economic cost in favour of the Corporation that should have financed all this work and developed a new port for Buenos Aires. But that’s another story. One probably involving corruption.

However in 2017, the teamwork carried out between a cooperating state, the province and the city of Buenos Aires allowed the change of the use of those spaces so that this project could move forward in the space of two years. It had a cost of just under three-quarters of a billion USD and was built under budget.

Already it is being observed the noise and pollution has declined notably in the area since it has been inaugurated due to the free flow of traffic.

Source: La Cronista

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