Routes 7 route 237 Neuquen undergoing repairs after the rain. A 300-meter detour was established in Añelo. In the area of ​​Arroyito the passage was cut, but it can be circulated on Routes 22 and 17.

The last rain storm had no mercy on the Neuquén routes. Roads were cut, it was necessary to divert traffic and the National and Provincial Road machines work against the clock for two days to repair the damage and enable the routes again. Early in the morning, the 237 was still cut between Arroyito and Picún Leufú, according to the part of Vialidad. In the case of 7, a 300-meter diversion was established while the work is finished.

 The most affected sectors were on route 237, between the roundabout of Arroyito and Villa El Chocón and on route 7 five kilometers from the town of Añelo. There were also inconveniences in other sections.

Routes 7 route 237 Neuquen undergoing repairs

In none of the cases were material damages or injured people recorded, but the breaks were large and caused many inconveniences on the routes that connect the Confluence with the main tourist points.

On Route 237, in the immediate vicinity of El Chocón, product of an intense rain of 15 minutes, one of the canyons overflowed and caused damage to the road. They worked in the place Gendarmerie and provincial police personnel, who cut the vehicular traffic to allow the work of the road machines. During the first minutes, only the passage of light vehicles was enabled, but then all types of roadways were allowed to free the sector between Arroyito and El Chocón.

Inside the villa, water and mud affected the bridges that connect neighborhoods. Five groups of campers had to be assisted and two families were helped to evacuate their homes, according to this newspaper, the mayor of El Chocón, Nicolás Di Fonzo. On the other hand, in the museum Ernesto Bachnmann gave the roof and water entered the interior but the paleontological pieces were not damaged.

In order not to affect the transit to the tourist sites, a detour was determined by route 17, from Picún Leufú to Plaza Huincul and from there by route 22.

The second sector that was affected by the storm was five kilometers from Añelo, on Route 7. There, there was a sinking in the asphalt that affected the terrain and an embankment fell. The deformation was five meters wide, but it was necessary to cut about 10 meters in order to make the arrangements, as reported from the provincial road.

 In the section a 300-meter diversion was established by the gutter, on the side of the farms, explained the provincial road coordinator, Juan Carlos Schenk, and added that there are traffic personnel accompanying the vehicles during the night. It was clarified that, although the passage of heavy traffic was impeded, all roadways can now circulate.

Schenk explained that what happened was that a concrete sewer that was under the asphalt was broken. The sector will now be cleaned and replaced with a drain. The embankment that gave in with the rain will also be rebuilt. It is estimated that the work will be completed between today or tomorrow. The gravel will be left until it is consolidated with the passage of the vehicles and then the asphalt will be put on.

In Senillosa and Centenario, the rain storm did not seriously affect the routes that cross the town but did bring inconvenience to merchants and neighbors in some neighborhoods.

In Senillosa, streets parallel to Route 22 were flooded as well as land arteries inside the town. With the passing of the hours and after the end of the rain, the water drained.

In Centenario, merchants complained about the lack of infrastructure works, since during the storm water entered their premises. They demanded storm drains, drainage works and sewer cleaning.

The Interjurisdictional Authority of Cuenca predicts on its website a sunny week, with no clouds in sight or omens of new rains. The maximum temperatures will be around 35 degrees, with clear skies and a wind already typical of the Patagonian zone but that will not overshadow outdoor enjoyment.

The situation could change as of Saturday 18, where they announce instability. By Sunday 19 the dark clouds could return. But we will always have to wait to spend this week, because in the weather everything can change.

The problems dragged by the oil corridor

The routes in the heart of Vaca Muerta continue to represent a headache for the sector. Monday's fleeting storm made it clear again. This time it was not the road at the height of the Carranza stream that usually disappears with the heavy seasonal rains. A sector of Route 7, about five kilometers from the town center of Añelo in the direction of the intersection with Route 5, collapsed and Provincial Road had to derive traffic to prevent the section from being undermined and causing a car accident.

The discussion about who should contribute the funds for infrastructure development usually appears every time a borderline event occurs. The routes in that sector, which connects Añelo with Rincón de los Sauces, are provincial, but the ones that benefit most from the roads are the companies that operate in the area. Even having or not having roads and whether or not they are paved can influence the definition of an investment plan and the calculation of project costs.

Vaca Muerta is on its way to reaching seven years and the column of debts in infrastructure works is extensive. The exponential growth of the transit to Añelo was not accompanied by works. The most significant case is seen on Route 51. The road duplication work will go through three national governments and is not yet finished.

The roundabout projects and separation of heavy traffic in the urban section of the town never went beyond the plans and protocol announcements. The solution to repeated accidents with pedestrians was the placement of traffic lights. For everything else it is common to see patches and short sections reformed of new road.

Some Centennial shops were flooded

Although it is impossible to control the climate, governments can get ahead of their ravages with public policies. That is why the anger of the Centennial merchants, who in some cases received more than 70 centimeters of water in their premises, after Monday's storm.

This was stated by the Chamber of Industry, Commerce, Production and Tourism of Centenario and Vista Alegre. They claimed that about 12 merchants were harmed by the flooding of Jacinto Stábile Street, next to Route 7, which was also collapsed by the storm.
Triana Morales, owner of the real estate located on the affected street, said that after seeing the weather forecast last Wednesday, she called the municipality of Centenario to clean up the storm's mouth that was covered. The woman said that on Friday she insisted again, after no municipal employee approached.

Morales said that, although she has no merchandise, she lost all her work items, including two computers and a refrigerator, as well as folders with important papers.

Teresa, the owner of Juan Da Ros, two stores that sell household appliances and household items, was one of the most affected by the flood. "When water started to get in, we picked things up but arrived at the tank," he explained.

The Secretary of Public Services of the Municipality, Vicente Quilodran, acknowledged that the main problem on Jacinto Estabile Street originated because the sewer was clogged, but held responsible for the lack of maintenance of the previous management.

The director of Civil Defense, Martín Riesgo, said that the drains in Centenario have not been cleaned for at least three years. He added that the lack of education of people who throw trash on public roads complicated the situation.