President Santiago Peña and Public Works Minister Claudia Centurión inspected this Friday the progress on Avenida Avelino Martínez in San Lorenzo, where a complete renovation of the road and a storm drainage system are underway. The project, covering nearly 6 kilometers from the connection with Route PY01 (Tres Bocas, Fernando de la Mora) to Route PY02, has a total investment of G. 242,759 million (about US$ 39.8 million), equivalent to approximately US$ 6.6 million per kilometer, a value above the average for road projects in the country.
During the tour, Peña questioned superficial solutions and defended the structural intervention. “We could have chosen the path of resurfacing, showing a beautiful project… but I don’t like shortcuts. I prefer the path that creates deep roots and provides permanent solutions to real problems,” he said. The president also highlighted the monitoring by residents during the execution of the works, acknowledging that the projects cause disruptions but that there was awareness work with the community.
Peña added that the project includes rigid pavement (concrete), to which he attributed greater durability in areas with high water presence, also emphasizing the use of domestically sourced materials and the generation of local labor.
Minister Claudia Centurión highlighted the complexity of the intervention in a densely populated urban area and stated that the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) works closely with the community and local authorities to mitigate inconveniences.
The MOPC, when questioned about the cost, maintained that comparison with conventional roads is not appropriate due to the technical characteristics of the project. The main component that increases the cost is the storm drainage system, which includes about 9,000 meters of culverts, an extension exceeding 50% of the intervened stretch.
The first section, from kilometer 0.200 to 3.5, is under the responsibility of Consórcio Vial GS (T&C SA and Black SA), represented by Francisco Griñó, with an award of G. 128,455 million. The second section, from kilometer 3.5 to 5.95, is under the responsibility of Consórcio Construtora Asunción SA e Associados/49 (Construtora Asunción SA and Enrique Edgardo Díaz Benza Cano), represented by José Díaz Benza, with an investment of G. 114,303 million.