Justice orders government to immediately repair three national routes in Santa Fe and holds it responsible for their deterioration

A federal judge has mandated the immediate and comprehensive repair of national routes 7, 8, and 33 in the General López department of Santa Fe province. Federal Judge Aurelio Cuello Murúa of Venado Tuerto ruled that the government's failure to maintain these roads constituted a "manifestly arbitrary or illegal" omission, violating the public's right to safe transit.

The court emphasized that the state's obligation to ensure the roads' repair persists, regardless of whether the work is performed by private companies. This order came in response to an injunction filed by provincial senator Leticia Di Gregorio, who argued against the National Directorate of National Roads' (DNV) inaction.

Judge Cuello Murúa specified that the national government, through the DNV or its future successor, or via current or future concessionary companies, must undertake the repairs. However, he stressed that any delegation of tasks does not absolve the state of its ultimate responsibility to guarantee the judicial order's fulfillment.

The ruling is significant as the government recently awarded new concessions within the Federal Concessions Network. Records show Route 33 was awarded to CPC SA, while routes 7 and 8 went to Creditech SA, Plantel SA, Basaa SA, and Cecosa SA. The judge asserted that these contractual changes cannot impede the necessary road repairs.

Di Gregorio's initial injunction in March 2025 also secured a preliminary order for the DNV to mark deteriorated sections, implement detours, and perform patching. Despite this, compliance was partial. In March 2026, the DNV acknowledged delays in Route 33 repairs due to pending authorization and budget needs. The agency cited budgetary and financial restrictions as impediments to essential maintenance, impacting road safety and transitability.

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manifestly arbitrary or illegal