The governor of Chubut, Ignacio Torres, opened the central section of the Trelew–Puerto Madryn Highway, a project that had been marked by corruption during the Kirchnerist governments. The governor emphasized that, for the first time, a province has completed a national highway with its own funds, turning a symbol of neglect into an emblem of efficient management and transparency.
The Trelew–Puerto Madryn Highway, located on National Route No. 3, covers 57 kilometers (35.4 miles) and includes the duplication of the roadway, paved shoulders, lighting, intersections, and strategic access points.
With this inauguration, both cities are now officially connected by a road corridor that improves freight traffic, boosts tourism, and significantly reduces travel times. "This highway is strategically important for production and tourism, and it is an example of what can be achieved when managed responsibly," officials from the provincial Executive highlighted.
"For 20 years there was neglect and corruption that shamed us"
In his speech, Ignacio Torres apologized to the victims of traffic accidents that occurred during the years when the project was paralyzed. "I want to offer my sincere apologies on behalf of the provincial government to the victims of traffic accidents, because during these 20 years of neglect there were cases of corruption that shamed all of us in Chubut," he stated.
The governor recalled that the highway "was the paradigm of corruption" and that "it is the only highway in Argentina that was paid for five times in the last 20 years without being completed."
"Friends of those in power abandoned the projects and nothing happened to them"
Torres highlighted the impunity with which contractors linked to Kirchnerism acted. "Many awardees abandoned the projects and nothing happened to them because they were businesspeople who were friends of those in power at the time. Others ended up in prison for this and many other reasons," he pointed out.
The governor called to "remember where we come from so we do not lose sight of where we must go" and reaffirmed his commitment to a "serious, predictable province with legal certainty."
"This is not a partisan event, it is the triumph of an entire community"
During the inauguration, Torres emphasized the plural nature of the event: "Here there are Justicialists, Radicals, people from PRO, independents, neighborhood representatives, business chambers, and UOCRA workers. An entire community united in the face of a dark history of neglect and corruption."
The governor stressed that the true engine of change is social cooperation: "The construction of a thriving province is done from the bottom up, with the unity of all citizens."
"Chubut shows that promises are kept"
Torres celebrated that Chubut has managed to complete a national project with its own funds, turning it into a symbol of efficiency and fulfillment. "Today we are showing that Chubut is an example of overcoming adversity. When managed with transparency, commitments are fulfilled," he said.
