The Super Highway to Oaxaca
IN FEBRUARY, WE VISITED THE SUPER HIGHWAY THAT WILL connect Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca, via Ventanilla, Colotepec and Barranca Larga, Ejutla. The project, now in the hands of Banobras, the national development bank, has been contracted out to the Portuguese consortium of Mota Engil for the two kms.in Colotepec leading to the Sta. Martha tunnel and the section north of the tunnel in San Antonio Lalana.
The main challenge is the geology of the region, especially the rock formations on the south side of the Sta. Martha tunnel. It can take a day to test the rocks and get them analyzed and then longer to actually chip through them. It’s a geologically diverse area.
There are now around 200 people working on the highway – engineers, topographers, heavy machine operators, etc. But do not hold your breath. Work has still not begun on what will be the biggest challenge, the road and tunnel in San Sebastián, Coatlán.
