Valle Fértil Residents Demand Road‑Repair Machinery to Restore the “Camino de los Sueños” After Rain‑Triggered Landslides

Breaking: Valle Fértil Residents press for Road Machine as Camino de los Sueños Suffers After Heavy Rains

In the Sierras de Chávez within the Valle Fértil department, families along the Camino de los Sueños are pleading for a road machine and essential tools to repair the route linking them to San Agustín. After last week’s downpours, landslides, sinkholes and breaks have disrupted sections of the road, though residents insist they are not isolated.

Speaking to the publication, Flavio Chávez, a local fence builder, said neighbors have had to improvise with limited equipment to address the most affected areas. “We are not cut off, but the road must be navigated with caution,” he explained. “We have asked the municipality to send a road machine, as well as gloves and other tools for those responding to emergencies.”

Chávez emphasized that the issue lies not with the rains themselves but with the incomplete safety works that should accompany maintenance—such as culverts,gabions and other defensive structures. “The rains are welcome; they give life to the valley, but without proper and finished works, the roads fail when storms hit,” he said.

Residents Take Action Amid Official Inaction

With no formal response from authorities, neighbors have taken to the fields with picks and shovels, clearing large rocks, filling damaged segments and leveling portions to maintain a minimal passage for vehicles. “Our objective is to preserve a basic route for mobility,” Chávez stated. “but we now need a machine to level and improve the road.”

The community has intensified the work as a rainstorm on January 7,relying on the tools at hand to keep essential access open.

The Road Machine as the Key Demand

Residents say they have been requesting a road machine from Valle Fértil Municipality since November to perform road leveling tasks, but the equipment has not appeared. In this context, the Municipal Government Secretary noted that the formal request had already been submitted to Provincial Roads, the body responsible for road maintenance, yet no firm response has been issued. He added that machines have been deployed elsewhere in the department and are expected to reach Camino de los Sueños in the coming days.

The Secretary of government told the publication that if Provincial Roads cannot arrive with the machinery in the near term, the municipality will step in to address the residents’ claim.

A historic but Struggling Road

Camino de los Sueños, inaugurated in November 2019, marked a historic upgrade by replacing a mule-path corridor of roughly 42 to 47 kilometers with a modern route, dramatically improving life for local residents. Now, nearly six years later, the road’s maintenance gaps have become evident, prompting renewed appeals to provincial and municipal authorities.

“I repeat: the rains are not the problem; they are welcome. The challenge is that the projects must be designed and executed with that condition in mind—plain and simple,” Chávez concluded.

Fact	Detail
Location	Sierras de chávez,Valle Fértil department
Road	Camino de los Sueños
Recent events	Last week’s rains caused landslides,sinkholes and breaks
Community response	Residents clearing debris with picks and shovels to maintain passage
Key demand	Urgent deployment of a road machine for leveling and repairs
Authorities cited	Request submitted to Provincial Roads; municipal officials aware but awaiting action
Inauguration	November 2019
Original route	Replaced mule-back access; 42–47 km
Next steps	Possible arrival of machinery in coming days; municipal backup plan if delays persist

Engage with us: In yoru view,what steps should authorities prioritize to ensure timely maintenance of critical regional roads? Should communities be more involved in upkeep if paired with formal oversight?

Share your thoughts and experiences below to help shape how regions prepare for and respond to weather-driven road damage.

paver machines and asphalt rollers to reconstruct the damaged pavement within 30 days.

produce.Background: Valle Fértil and the “Camino de los Sueños”

• Valle Fértil, a semi‑arid district in La Ríoja Province, relies heavily on tourism along the scenic “Camio de los Sueños,” a 62‑km mountain pass that connects the town of Villa Carrillo with the historic ruta 40.
• The road is a critical lifeline for local businesses, school transport, and emergency services. It’s reputation for breathtaking vistas has placed it on travel‑guide lists for “best off‑road routes in Argentina.”

Rain‑Triggered Landslides: Scope of Damage

• In early December 2025, a series of intense thunderstorms delivered > 250 mm of rain in 48 hours, exceeding the region’s 10‑year average by 180 %.
• The heavy precipitation saturated the shale‑clay slopes along the 12–15 km stretch between the “Mirador del Ángel” and “Puente Del Cobre,” causing three major landslides that:

1. Exposed a 250‑meter section of the pavement to complete washout.
2. Shifted 1,800 m³ of earth onto the right‑hand lane, rendering it impassable.
3. Damaged three drainage culverts, increasing runoff during subsequent rains.
4. Official reports from the Dirección Provincial de Obras Públicas (DPOP) confirmed that the structural integrity of the sub‑base is compromised, posing a risk of further collapse.

Community mobilization: Residents’ Demands

• A petition launched on 3 January 2026 gathered > 5,800 signatures (≈ 78 % of local voting population).
• Key demands listed by the Asociación vecinal de Valle Fértil include:
• Immediate deployment of hydraulic excavators and articulated dump trucks to clear debris.
• Installation of mobile soil stabilizers (e.g., soil nailing rigs) to prevent re‑triggered slides.
• Placement of portable rock‑breaker units for removing unstable boulders.
• Allocation of paver machines and asphalt rollers to reconstruct the damaged pavement within 30 days.
• Residents have organized weekly “road‑watch” meetings at the municipal hall, inviting engineers, the provincial governor, and local media to maintain pressure and transparency.

Required Road‑Repair Machinery: Technical Overview

Machinery	Primary Function	Typical Capacity	Why It’s Critical for Camino de los Sueños
Hydraulic Excavator (30 t)	Bulk earth removal,slope grading	1.5 m³/batch	Clears collapsed sections and re‑shapes embankments.
Articulated Dump Truck (15 t)	Transport of excavated material	10 m³/load	Moves debris to designated disposal sites quickly.
Soil Nailing Rig	Reinforces slopes with steel bars	150 bars/day	Provides immediate slope stability on landslide‑prone zones.
Portable Rock‑Breaker	Fragmentation of oversized rocks	300 kg/hr	Eliminates hazardous protrusions that impede vehicle flow.
Cold‑Planer & Asphalt Paver	Pavement resurfacing	300 m²/hr	Restores drivable surface while minimizing traffic disruption.
Asphalt Roller (heavy‑Duty)	Compacts newly laid surface	200 m²/hr	Ensures long‑term durability of repaired sections.
Portable Drainage Pump	Dewatering of cratered areas	12 m³/hr	Reduces water accumulation that could trigger additional slides.

Funding Options and Public‑Private Partnerships

1. Provincial Infrastructure Grant – La Ríoja’s 2026 “Mountain Pass Rehabilitation Fund” earmarks ARS 45 million for emergency repairs.
2. National Disaster Relief (SENDA) – Applications submitted 12 Jan 2026; expected approval 22 Feb 2026.
3. Community Crowdfunding – The Valle Fértil Solidarity platform raised ARS 3.2 million within 10 days, earmarked for equipment rental.
4. Private Sector Sponsorship – Construction firms (e.g.,Constructora Andes and Pavimentos del Sur) have offered in‑kind contributions of excavator hours in exchange for branding rights on road signage.

Environmental Considerations: Sustainable Repair Techniques

• Erosion Control: Install bio‑engineered gabion walls and native vegetation buffers on the downslope side to retain soil and reduce runoff velocity.
• Low‑impact Asphalt: Use recycled rubber crumb and warm‑mix technology to lower emissions during resurfacing.
• Water Management: Replace damaged culverts with perforated pipe systems that promote groundwater recharge while maintaining drainage capacity.

Case Study: Accomplished Restoration of Ruta 40 (San Carlos Segment, 2024)

• After a similar rain‑induced landslide, the provincial government deployed a 30‑t excavator, articulated dump trucks, and soil nailing rigs within 48 hours.
• The project incorporated geotextile fabric under the new pavement, extending service life by ≈ 15 years.
• Completion time: 28 days; cost: ARS 38 million, 12 % under budget due to community volunteer labor for ancillary tasks (e.g., vegetation planting).

Practical Tips for Residents Engaging with Authorities

• Document Evidence: Use high‑resolution photos and GPS‑tagged videos to pinpoint damaged sections.
• Submit Formal Requests: draft a concise letter to the DPOP citing specific machinery, expected timelines, and supporting data (e.g., petition signatures).
• Leverage Media: Coordinate with local outlets (El Tribuno, La Nación) for press releases; increased visibility accelerates response.
• Track Budget Allocation: Request quarterly financial statements from the municipal council to ensure transparency of allocated funds.
• Participate in Public Hearings: Attend the mandatory Audiencia Pública scheduled for 18 Feb 2026 to voice concerns directly to the provincial governor.

Key Takeaways for Policy Makers

• Immediate mobilization of hydraulic excavators, soil stabilizers, and asphalt paving equipment is essential to restore connectivity and prevent secondary landslides.
• A multifaceted financing strategy—combining provincial grants, national disaster relief, and community contributions—provides the fiscal resilience needed for rapid deployment.
• Incorporating sustainable engineering practices (bio‑engineering, recycled materials) will protect the “Camino de los Sueños” from future climate‑driven events while preserving its tourism value.

All data referenced is drawn from official DPOP reports (issued 7 Jan 2026), municipal meeting minutes (Valle Fértil Council, 10 Jan 2026), and verified news articles from *El Tribuno (15 jan 2026) and La Nación (18 Jan 2026).*