06/07/2026 10:09 - Actualidad
According to local authorities, on Monday, July 6, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM, a new and crucial phase of roadworks begins on the Acceso Este (Route 22). This is one of the busiest highway corridors in the province of Mendoza, a world-renowned wine region in western Argentina. The route is used by more than 120,000 drivers every weekday. With an investment of over $50 million, the project aims to modernize this vital gateway to the city of Mendoza by adding a third lane to prevent traffic collapse.
Natalio Mema, the Minister of Government, and Marcos Calvente, the Mayor of Guaymallén (a populous department in the Greater Mendoza metropolitan area), announced that while delays are inevitable, the start of the winter school holidays is being leveraged to adjust the traffic operation. The goal is clear: to improve the quality of life and the economic flow of the region in the medium term.
The works will start in the section between Arturo González and Tirasso streets, working in a 'mirror' pattern. The key to avoiding total closures will be the collector roads (side roads running parallel to the main highway), which will be fully open for traffic (with parking prohibited) to provide three lanes of circulation.
The construction method will use 500-meter blocks that will progressively advance, involving soil movement, filling, and asphalt paving simultaneously.
In the department of Maipú, another key wine-producing area within the metro region, work will also begin on July 6. A narrowing of the road will occur in the southern section, between Puente Medina and Las Margaritas, for shoulder reinforcement. There will be no total closure, but dynamic detours will be in place:
Estimated delays during peak hours range from 10 to 25 minutes, so planning trips in advance is highly recommended.
The most challenging section will be between Tirasso and Sarmiento, as it involves raising the road level by approximately 5 meters (about 16 feet) and constructing three new bridges (Rosario–Houssay, Azcuénaga–Avellaneda, and the Urquiza lane). Additionally, the storm drainage system will be redesigned, and new bike lanes and urban furniture will be added.
The municipality of Guaymallén, the only local government auditing these provincial works carried out by the UTE (a temporary joint venture formed by construction companies Ayfra and Green), has deployed 30 traffic inspectors to assist drivers. Today's effort will result in a more modern, safe, and efficient Acceso Este for the entire Metropolitan Area of Mendoza.
Sources: MDZol, El Sol Mendoza, and El Nueve.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
