Gran Concepción mayors condemn suspension of key road projects

Mayors of the Gran Concepción region, including Juan Pablo Spoerer of San Pedro de la Paz, Rodrigo Vera of Penco and Eduardo Saavedra of Talcahuano, united in criticism of the Chilean government's decision to halt several road works. The projects affected – the Route 160 corridor, the road to Penco and the highway to Talcahuano – were suspended by Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz, a move the mayors described as centralist and learned only through the media. They warned the suspension would jeopardise jobs, increase traffic congestion and undermine long‑planned regional development. The Chamber of Construction, led by president Jorge Coloma, echoed the criticism and called for the decision to be reversed. The mayors said they will pursue meetings with the Ministries of Finance and Public Works to seek reinstatement of the projects.