Route 5 infrastructure faces budget criticism in Argentina

Criticism has emerged regarding the 2027 National Budget submitted by President Javier Milei, specifically concerning infrastructure allocations for Route 5 in Argentina. Local advocacy groups and citizens are protesting that the budget only accounts for 6 kilometers of work, specifically the “Travesía Urbana de Mercedes” between Calle 2 and Calle 41.

Critics argue that this allocation ignores the broader need for the complete Route 5 highway. They are calling on the Chamber of Deputies to include funding to resume and complete the 20-kilometer Mercedes–Suipacha bypass, a project previously initiated with international credit but subsequently suspended. Protesters claim the current budget fails to address the safety risks of the existing single-lane road and lacks provisions for the highway connecting Mercedes to Santa Rosa.