Argentina and Chile coordinate on Paso Las Leñas connectivity project

Officials from Argentina and Chile are coordinating efforts to advance the Paso Las Leñas project, a strategic initiative aimed at improving regional connectivity and commercial ties. Omar Félix, the Mayor of San Rafael, met with the Chilean Consul in Mendoza, David Quiroga Hinojosa, and Mendoza's Subsecretary of Institutional Relations, José María Videla Sáenz, to discuss the project's implementation.

The proposal involves constructing a low-altitude tunnel to connect San Rafael with Rancagua in Chile's O’Higgins Region. This connection is intended to provide a year-round operational alternative for international trade, optimizing logistics and supporting regional economies.

Authorities emphasized the need to reactivate the binational entity EBILEÑAS to ensure long-term planning through cooperation between public and private sectors. There is reported political and institutional consensus on both sides of the Andes to move forward with the project to complement existing border crossings.