Bitar: Problems with the southern access point are due to insufficient expropriation

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SANTIAGO.- The minister of Public Works, Sergio Bitar, has acknowledged that the complications, caused by the recent inauguration of the southern access point to Santiago, are due to the fact that the amount of expropriated land was not enough, leaving homes too close to the highway and causing noise problems and safety problems for residents.

“What is happening is that a very narrow area of land was expropriated to open the access point, leaving homes in very close proximity”, Bitar told Radio Cooperativa.

According to the minister, the solution requires authorities to “expand the width of the expropriated land by a few meters on each side”, which would allow for more space between the homes and the highway linking La Angostura to Puente Alto.

Bitar said that 40 kilometers have been opened and that they are still waiting to build a tunnel for the highway, which has caused problems for residents in Batallón Chacabuco and San Alberto, La Pintana, Los Canalistas and El Duraznal, as well as in Puente Alto.