Jujuy highway project halted due to national debt

The construction workers' union, UOCRA, has declared a state of alert following the suspension of highway works on National Route 34 in Jujuy, Argentina. The project, which spans the section between El Cuarteadero and San Pedro de Jujuy, is more than 50% complete but has been halted for over 20 days.

The stoppage is attributed to a significant debt owed by Vialidad Nacional to the construction firm Chediack. Unpaid work certificates are estimated to be between 19,000 and 23,000 million pesos. As a result of the suspension, approximately 180 workers have been laid off.

UOCRA representatives have conducted assemblies and partial road blockades on National Routes 1 and 34 to protest the situation. Local authorities in San Pedro de Jujuy have called for community mobilization if work does not resume, while the Jujuy provincial government is reportedly negotiating in Buenos Aires to secure the necessary budget allocations.