Neuquén Plans US$177.6 Million Investment to Improve Roads to Vaca Muerta – Todo Logística News | 02/10/26

The province of Neuquén is planning an investment of up to US$177.6 million to pave and repave 158 kilometers of provincial routes 7, 8 and 51, with the aim of expanding transportation alternatives to Añelo and supporting the growth of hydrocarbon activity in Vaca Muerta. The initiative, which received a favorable recommendation from the Neuquén Legislature’s Hydrocarbons Committee, would provide three alternative routes to Añelo, compared with the single main access currently available. The financing scheme calls for 15 oil companies to provide the funds in advance at a zero interest rate, with an initial amount of US$154.5 million that could be increased to cover potential additional costs, while the provincial government will define and execute the projects and subsequently recover the funds through tolls and deductions linked to royalties. The largest investment will be concentrated on Route 8, with US$91.3 million allocated to one section and US$6.8 million to another, while US$50.4 million will go to Route 51 and US$6 million to Route 7. The works will cover 95 and 8 kilometers of Route 8, 40 kilometers of Route 51 and 15 kilometers of Route 7, and will include tolls, dynamic weight-control systems and penalties for vehicles exceeding established limits. The fund-recovery mechanism will begin 30 months after each disbursement and will be capped at 20% of the royalties received by the province, while vehicles registered in Neuquén will receive a discount of nearly 99% on tolls. Authorities expect construction to begin before the end of 2026, although the schedule will depend on the first disbursements and progress on the executive projects, with the broader goal of better distributing heavy traffic and preventing road infrastructure from becoming a bottleneck for energy development. Link to Article