Work for Argentina’s famous highway

Construction work is underway for a key section of Argentina’s Route 40, the country’s longest highway and also one of the longest highways in the world. Route 40 runs the whole length of the country, some 5,000km, connecting Argentina’s north and south. Work for the 170km San Juan to Mendoza stretch of the highway is being carried out by the Transitional Union of Companies (UTE) Construcciones Ivica y Antonio Dumandzic - Semisa Infraestructura.

Paving work and bridge construction is being carried out at various points along the 26km section between Tres Esquinas in Mendoza Province and Cochagual in San Juan Province. Work on this section had been stopped for four years after the previous contractor removed itself from the project.

Much of the financing for this stretch of the highway is now being provided by Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), with a 7% portion being provided by Argentina’s National Road Administration. The stretch of Route 40 in San Juan Province and Mendoza Province is the busiest section of the highway.

Work to improve RN40 is intended to boost Argentina’s tourism and is being overseen by the country’s government. Route 40 is one of the most famous highways in the world due to its length and the challenging environment it passes through in some sections, with a significant portion of the highway still unpaved. The road was built in 1935 and runs parallel to the Andes mountain range, featuring 27 mountain passes, a highest point at 5,000m, linking 20 national parks and traversing 236 rivers, 18 of which are major rivers.

Meanwhile, construction is being carried out for a new bridge that will span the Carnero River in Cordoba Province. Widening work is also being carried out for a 3.6km section of Route 9 in Colón Department to boost capacity.