By Charlotte Reid 
The new tunnel will improve the connection between Argentina and Chile.
The Agua Negra road project, which aims to link Argentina and Chile, is back on track after work was halted during the administration of Mauricio Macri, former president of Argentina. The corridor would allow regular passage between the province of San Juan (Argentina) and the Coquimbo Region (Chile) through the Andes Mountains.
The project involves the construction of a tunnel approximately 14 kilometres long. Although the Agua Negra Pass has historically been available as a mountain route in summer, it remained closed for much of the year as a precaution due to snow and adverse weather conditions.
The halting of the works was a disappointment for both regions because it already had international financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and had passed the technical design stage. However, during the government of Mauricio Macri, investment priorities changed and budgets were cut, leading to a total halt in the work.
The importance of the connection between the regions
The construction of the Andean crossing would give Argentina direct access to the Pacific Ocean, facilitating the passage of neglected provinces in the centre and north-west of the country. This would boost exports to Asian markets, as well as the location of a strategic commercial hub in the province of San Juan itself.
Tourism interaction and cultural exchange are two of the main reasons behind this initiative. Both nations are too close geographically to remain disconnected from each other.