Undersecretary of MOP: "The San Cristobál tunnel is for the entire city"

SANTIAGO.- The Undersecretary of Public Works, Juan Eduardo Saldivia, asserted today that the tunnel running from Cerro San Cristóbal, which was opened yesterday six months behind schedule, has been planned for the good of the entire city and not to benefit only some.

"This structure benefits the entire northern part of Santiago, including Conchalí, Huechuraba, Recoleta, Independencia (...), which has a new connecting route that significantly improves conditions; it cuts down on travel time and greatly benefits that entire area of the city", Saldivia told Radio Cooperativa.

With regards to the apprehensions indicated by the Mayor of Providencia, Cristián Labbé, due to a possible increase in traffic along Avenida El Cerro, the undersecretary stated that all possible measures have been taken to ease traffic congestion such as the gradual opening of the route and the construction of complementary projects including an additional bridge over the Mapocho River.

The undersecretary estimates that, during normal time periods, some 40 thousand vehicles will pass through the tunnel per day and stated that by Tuesday of this week, 15 thousand vehicles had already made use of one direction of the tunnel.

The tunnel was opened only during non-rush hour periods, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM.