Argentina's road concession plan sparks safety and toll concerns

The Federation of National Road Personnel (FEPEVINA) warned that 70% of Argentina's road network is in poor condition after the Milei government cut the 2026 road‑maintenance budget by about 75% and failed to reinvest fuel taxes. The agency says the lack of funding and the loss of over 1,700 specialized staff threaten driver safety, with fatal accidents reportedly tripling.

At the same time, the government has handed 20‑year concessions of national routes to private firms without requiring new highway construction. Marcelo Suárez, a resident of Mercedes, criticised the recent concession of Route 5 to Construcciones Electromecánicas del Oeste SA, noting that the contract only covers maintenance and adds toll booths on roads that lack alternative routes. Suárez also highlighted the absence of a regulatory body and warned that the toll system could increase costs for users while road safety continues to deteriorate.