Paving on the first 11.7 kilometers of the Ruta de los Inmigrantes in Itapúa has reached 68.79% completion. The section connects highway PY06 to Puerto Paredón de Hohenau and includes upgrades to withstand the heavy traffic associated with port activity. Another 32 kilometers, between central Hohenau and Hohenau 5, still need to be put out to bid and have a contract awarded.
Work crews are carrying out deep pothole repairs, building a granular base and applying asphalt surfacing. They are also applying a prime coat and a tack coat, which help the pavement adhere, as well as building wheel guards and drainage works to protect the road edges and improve road safety.
The contract was awarded in September 2024 to Benito Roggio e Hijos S.A. for G. 49.501 billion. The project covers the structural package, asphalt leveling, asphalt concrete on the roadway and complementary works. During construction, the structural package was adjusted to accommodate heavy vehicle traffic and increase the road’s durability, engineer César Núñez of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), Paraguay’s public infrastructure agency, said.
Núñez acknowledged that the rainy season could affect the pace of work. He said companies should make use of days when conditions allow work to proceed, and that the MOPC could require them to meet their obligations and impose fines if they do not.
The project has been presented as a boost to logistics in an agricultural, dairy and industrial region, with the capacity to facilitate the transport of more than 350,000 tonnes of grain a year and the movement of production to marketing centers. The paving has also been announced as a way to improve connectivity and mobility, as well as to drive economic, agro-industrial and tourism development in Hohenau, known for the area’s landscapes.
The 32-kilometer section between central Hohenau and Hohenau 5 is still pending bidding and contract award. The work underway therefore reaches the port, but does not yet complete the planned route connecting this section to Hohenau 5.