The government is in talks with other highway concession operators to lower their tolls, according to CNN Chile. Louis de Grange, Minister of Public Works and of Transport and Telecommunications, confirmed contacts with Costanera Norte, Vespucio Sur and some concession operators in the regions.
His remarks follow President Kast's announcement in a nationwide broadcast this Monday. He announced an agreement with the Autopista Central concession operator to reduce tolls by 25% during peak hours and periods of heavy congestion, and by 10% at all other times.
The discount comes with compensation. As De Grange explained, the concession operator will be compensated through a 20-month extension of the contract, which currently expires in 2034 and would be extended to 2036.
That mechanism explains why not all highways can be included in the agreement. Think of it as a loan: if you have only a few payments left, adding a few more significantly changes the monthly amount. If you have decades left, the effect is barely noticeable.
"The critical variable here is not whether it is in Santiago or the regions, but how old the concession is," the minister told Emol. He added that if the concession is new, "there is little that can be done," wherever it is.
For that reason, he provisionally ruled out the Américo Vespucio Oriente highway, which has more than 35 years left on its concession. In that case, he said, extending the term "makes no noticeable difference to the current toll."
Who would benefit? If the talks succeed, drivers who use Costanera Norte and Vespucio Sur in Santiago, along with users of some concession-operated roads in the regions that the minister did not specify. He also provided no percentage reductions or timelines for these negotiations.
For Autopista Central, the discount would take effect in January 2027, according to earlier reports on the agreement. The contract extension has already drawn criticism from the opposition, which alleges fine print, while lawmakers from the regions are calling for interurban roads to be included.
"We are in talks, and as soon as we have news, of course we will share it," De Grange said, without setting a date for further announcements.
