Congressman Cristian Tapia Appeals to Comptroller for Inspection of Highway 5 North Following Serious Accidents

Original article: Diputado Cristián Tapia recurre a Contraloría y exige fiscalizar situación de Ruta 5 Norte entre Vallenar y La Serena tras graves accidentes

Congressman Cristian Tapia has presented a formal request to the Comptroller General of the Republic, asking for an inspection of the conditions on Highway 5 North, particularly the stretch between Vallenar and La Serena. This area has witnessed several severe accidents and significant traffic disruptions in recent weeks.

The legislator recalled that on August 10, he had already formally alerted authorities to the existing risks on the highway, emphasizing issues such as circulation changes, lack of signage, and the conditions of ongoing construction work.

In response to his request, the Ministry of Public Works had warned the concessionaire that these conditions could lead to head-on collisions between vehicles, demanding that measures be taken.

«We warned about the risks on August 10, and just 16 days later, a tragic accident occurred. Furthermore, in the early hours of August 29, we witnessed another accident on Cuesta Pajonales, precisely in an area where the dual carriageway ends and a two-way road begins,» Tapia stated.

The congressman also criticized the continued toll charges imposed on users despite the highway not being fully operational.

«If the service being provided does not meet the required standards, we cannot keep charging tolls as if everything is functioning normally. We’re talking about a highway that has been undergoing work and facing challenges affecting the safety of those traveling on it for over a month and a half,» the legislator asserted.

Tapia explained that he had discussed this issue with the Ministry of Public Works, which indicated that suspending toll charges would not be possible because the road remains passable.

«Claiming that the highway is passable is not adequate when we have experienced accidents, fatalities, and hours of traffic interruptions. In one accident, the road was closed for about six hours, while in another incident, users waited over eight hours to continue their journey,» he noted.

Consequently, the legislator requested the Comptroller’s Office to examine the actions of the Ministry of Public Works and determine any responsibilities concerning oversight and compliance with the concession contract.

«Concessionaires cannot act without oversight. The State, through the Ministry of Public Works, has a responsibility as the principal and must ensure that the service provided meets safety standards,» he emphasized.

Finally, Tapia urged the Comptroller to conduct a thorough inspection and establish accountability.

«The individuals traveling daily between Vallenar and La Serena deserve respect, safety, and dignity. We can no longer wait for another tragedy to take action. We want this situation to return to normalcy and for justice to prevail for all who use this highway,» he concluded.

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