Salto Intendancy Declares "Vial Emergency" Amidst El Niño Rains and Road Damage

The local government in Salto, Uruguay, has declared a "Vial Emergency" due to severe road damage exacerbated by recent heavy rains. The situation, described as unprecedented for the department, has prompted the Intendancy to mobilize all 11 public works crews for round-the-clock repairs, including nighttime and weekend work.

Intendant Carlos Albisu highlighted that Salto's road infrastructure has suffered from years of neglect, compounded by a significant increase in vehicle numbers. The city's vehicle count has risen from 45,000 to 80,000 in a decade, straining the existing roads in a city of 138,000 inhabitants. This surge in traffic, coupled with recent intense rainfall, nearly 300 millimeters in five days associated with the El Niño phenomenon, has led to widespread deterioration.

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attend to the vial emergency generated by the intense precipitations registered during the last few days

To address the crisis, the Intendancy is deploying all available resources. Private contractors have also begun work on the first of five planned road recovery projects. Albisu stated the goal is to "attend to the vial emergency generated by the intense precipitations" and to prepare for anticipated flooding from the Uruguay River in the spring, which is expected to cause further damage. The crews will continue working until the city is in the best possible condition to face the ongoing effects of El Niño.

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We will not stop until we leave the city in the best possible condition for what is coming with the El Niño phenomenon