Los Libertadores Border Crossing Reopens After Record Closure

The Los Libertadores border crossing, the primary land connection between Chile and Argentina, will reopen on Tuesday, August 18, following a closure of 34 to 35 days. This period marks the longest closure in the history of the pass. The shutdown was caused by extreme weather conditions, including heavy snow and wind that began on July 14. The reopening will be gradual and will prioritize cargo transport. From Tuesday, August 18, through Thursday, August 20, traffic will flow from Argentina to Chile. From Friday, August 21, to Saturday, August 22, traffic will flow from Chile to Argentina. The daily operating hours are set from 08:00 to 20:00 Chile time. The closure caused significant economic disruption. Estimates of losses vary across reports, with one source citing US$45 million in losses for stranded trucks and another estimating total commercial and logistical losses at US$200 million. Approximately 3,000 trucks were stranded during the closure. In response to the crisis, the governor of Mendoza, Alfredo Cornejo, proposed a joint tender to outsource road clearing to specialized companies to accelerate the process. Additionally, there are calls from business leaders and officials to invest in new infrastructure, specifically the proposed low altitude Las Leñas International Tunnel, to reduce vulnerability to weather events.