The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has announced the schedule of the Second Loa Route Concession to be provisionally put into service in the city of Calama, Chile.

Traffic will soon be open on the South Access to Calama, a component of the ongoing construction works in sector A of the Second Rutas del Loa Concession. This project involves enhancing and widening the existing Route to accommodate two lanes between Carmen Alto (intersection with Route 5) and the junction with Av. Balmaceda is situated north of the current roundabout at the southern entrance to Calama in the Antofagasta Region. The South Access spans approximately 6.2 km, commencing at the Dupont interchange and providing access to the New Eastern Beltway of Calama while also connecting seamlessly to the existing Route 25. Upon completion, this segment of Route 25 will feature dual carriageways up to Balmaceda Street and Av. Circunvalación, incorporating infrastructure such as the Las Industrias overpass, the Calama Sur underpass, as well as pedestrian walkways at Las Industrias and the airport.

The commencement of operations on the South Access to Calama, a segment of Route 25, will alleviate congestion on Av. Aeropuerto and facilitate the connection to Av. Circunvalación, which served as an alternative route during the construction phase. The Second Concession project aims to enhance the city's connectivity with Antofagasta by implementing a dual carriageway that will accommodate an estimated 5,000 vehicles per day in this area. Section A of the Second Loa Route Concession also includes provisions such as a service and emergency care area, emergency intercoms every 2.5 km, and U-turn points every 6 kilometers to facilitate directional changes for drivers. The provisional commencement of operations for Sector A is scheduled for July 30, 2024, with progress reaching 90.14% as of March 2024.