Road blockades in Bolivia cause over $15.1 million in infrastructure damage

Road blockades across Bolivia, which have lasted over 50 days, have inflicted more than 150 million bolivianos (approximately $15.1 million) in damage to the nation's highway infrastructure, according to the Ministry of Public Works. The ministry detailed that the damage affects signage, safety elements, and drainage systems along 37 segments of the Fundamental Road Network.

In the La Paz department, crucial routes connecting to Oruro and the international highway to Peru via Desaguadero suffered significant deterioration. The asphalt surfaces were damaged by prolonged tire burning at numerous blockade points, where protesters also erected barricades using heavy machinery. Toll infrastructure on the La Paz-Oruro route was also destroyed, disrupting revenue collection for the Bolivian Road Administration (ABC).

Further destruction occurred on the road to Desaguadero, where protesters dug large trenches to impede transit. On at least three other routes, concrete safety barriers were dismantled to be used as blockade materials. Similar damage was reported on roads in the departments of Cochabamba, Oruro, Santa Cruz, and Potosí.

The blockades were spearheaded by the La Paz peasant federation and the Bolivian Workers' Confederation (COB), later joined by groups supporting former president Evo Morales. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz, who was eight months into his term. The conflict led to shortages of food, fuel, and medical oxygen in some cities and resulted in at least 16 deaths, 13 of which were attributed to a lack of timely medical attention due to the blockades. Total economic losses from the protests are estimated to exceed $3 billion.

Following agreements with sectors like the COB, Paz declared a state of exception on June 20 to lift the blockades. Police and the military were deployed to clear the roads. In connection with the protests' impact, Vicente Salazar, the top leader of the La Paz peasants, was recently placed in preventive detention for six months, facing charges of "incitement."