Chilean Residents Protest High Toll Fees on Ruta de la Fruta Amidst Construction Delays

Residents of the Ruta de la Fruta in Chile are protesting the high cost of using the TAG electronic toll system, especially since the road is under construction and lacks adequate infrastructure. The road, also known as Route 66, connects several communities and has only two toll plazas currently operational. One resident, Elizabeth Rojas, president of the Lo Encañado neighborhood association, stated, "For us to return and go towards San Antonio, we have to take responsibility and find a way to get back, which means going kilometers out of our way." The mayor of Las Cabras, Juan Pablo Flores, added that the road 'does not meet the standards of road safety for the community.' The video also shows the lack of safety features near a school, with students forced to walk dangerously close to the highway to avoid paying the toll multiple times daily. The concession company, Sacyr, has stated that improvements, including pedestrian walkways, are underway, but no completion date has been given. This situation highlights the importance of community engagement in infrastructure projects and the need for transparent communication about timelines and costs.