Ready to discover a vital artery of Buenos Aires? The Autopista Dr. Arturo Umberto Illia awaits our exploration. This expressway plays a crucial role in connecting the city. It links the center of Buenos Aires with its northern reaches.
The Autopista Arturo Illia, also known as AV1 Norte, stretches 3.5 kilometers. It offers a swift route from Avenida Leopoldo Lugones to Avenida 9 de Julio. Under normal traffic conditions, you can zip to the Obelisco in a mere eight minutes. This excludes the peak hours of course.
Originally conceived in 1977, construction didn’t begin until the 1990s. The first segment opened on October 31, 1995. Jorge Domínguez inaugurated the section between Arroyo and Jerónimo Salguero streets on May 16, 1996. This included a viaduct over the railway lines from Retiro station.
However, the northbound lanes faced delays. The project stirred controversy involving Villa 31 residents. Land expropriations led to protests and forced evictions. This also led to the abandonment of the Autopista Ribereña project. It would have connected the Autopista Illia with the Buenos Aires-La Plata highway.
Initially, COVIMET managed the Autopista Arturo Illia. It was the only city expressway not operated by AUSA. In 2003, the city government rescinded COVIMET’s contract. Irregularities in management prompted this change. AUSA then took over operations and toll collection.
In June 2004, plans emerged to extend the expressway to Avenida Intendente Cantilo. Works began in mid-2005, but progress was slow. Physical and bureaucratic hurdles caused the delays. These included the Nuevo Parque KDT, the Sarmiento Avenue tunnel, and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery. Disputes between national and city governments further complicated matters.
The Sarmiento Avenue tunnel opened on June 23, 2009. It ran under the Belgrano Norte railway tracks and the expressway bridge. On June 3, 2014, the section between the tunnel and Avenida Cantilo opened. This eased heavy traffic on Av. Rafael Obligado.
Cristina Kirchner and Mauricio Macri jointly inaugurated the Autopista Arturo Illia extension. This new 3-kilometer section has four lanes. It runs from Av. Sarmiento to Cantilo. The project involved shifting the Gral. Belgrano railway tracks and the Aeroparque fence.
In 2015, the exit to Avenida del Libertador opened. This exit features two lanes and is near the Retiro toll station. Later, modifications began on the expressway’s route from the toll station to Av. del Libertador. This crosses the railway tracks near Parque Thays. The Paseo del Bajo interchange opened on May 27, 2019.
However, a planned elevated park project in Villa 31 was suspended in 2020. This came after announcing the expressway’s partial relocation. The project aimed to address the highway’s passage through the residential area and railway lines. Abandoned concrete pilings remain as a testament to the failed project.
The tollbooth near Avenida 9 de Julio has become Argentina’s most expensive. This is when considering the cost per kilometer traveled. Legislator Alejandro Bodart accused Mauricio Macri of using AUSA for political campaigning through these toll hikes.
The Autopista Arturo Illia’s route includes key intersections and landmarks. These include Avenida 9 de Julio, Calle Arroyo, and Avenida del Libertador. It passes over railway lines and near the Shell service station and Villa 31. Its construction and evolution reflect Buenos Aires’ urban development challenges.