Arequipa-La Joya Bridge Inaugurated Amid Safety Concerns, Cost Overruns

The Arequipa‑La Joya (Virgen de Chapi) bridge was inaugurated by regional governor Rohel Sánchez, Transport Minister Aldo Prieto and President José María Balcázar. The project, originally budgeted at S/107 million, escalated to S/171 million 179 thousand 295, a roughly 60 % increase, after nearly a decade of delays, contract disputes, and technical revisions. Contraloría reports flagged insufficient seismic reinforcement and the lack of required safety audits on bridge pillars. Local residents and the Apipa industrial association warned that the new four‑lane, high‑speed route lacks adequate signage, lighting, and pedestrian bridges, raising accident risk. Authorities highlighted the bridge’s “unique antisismic system” and projected time savings of two and a half to three hours for heavy traffic from Puno, Cusco and Bolivia. The Ministry of Transport also secured a “good pro” for a 20.5‑km road segment, funded through a S/408 million obras por impuestos scheme, to complete the Arequipa‑La Joya corridor.

“Es un reto para la ingeniería del Perú lo que se ha construido,” said the governor, while a resident cautioned, “Es una ruta muy importante, pero es de alta velocidad y puede ocasionar muchos accidentes.”