A rockslide has caused a total closure of Route 40 in the Seven Lakes sector between San Martín de los Andes and Catritre [1, 2, 3].
The closure disrupts a primary transit artery in Patagonia during the winter vacation season, cutting off a scenic route and complicating travel for thousands of tourists.
Vialidad Nacional, Parques Nacionales, and the Municipality of San Martín de los Andes are coordinating the response [1, 2]. Officials said the rockfall was caused by terrain instability resulting from water absorption and forecasts of rain [1, 2].
The impact on regional travel is significant. Approximately 600 people per day are unable to reach San Martín de los Andes from Bariloche due to the blockage [4]. While some reports indicate the road will remain closed for an indeterminate amount of time [2], other estimates from Vialidad suggest that work to restore circulation will take several days [3, 5].
"The work to completely restore circulation will take several days," a spokesperson for Vialidad Nacional said [2].
Despite the total closure of the main highway, access to certain tourist destinations remains possible. A spokesperson for Vialidad Nacional said that access to Chapelco and Lago Hermoso Ski Resort remains enabled via alternative routes [6]. This contradicts some initial reports that the blockade had completely severed all local access [3].
"Circulation will remain interrupted," the spokesperson said [3].
Crews are currently working on removing the debris to clear the roadway. The instability of the slope continues to be a primary concern for safety teams as they operate in the area [1, 2].
“"The work to completely restore circulation will take several days."”
The closure of Route 40 during the winter peak highlights the vulnerability of Patagonia's infrastructure to climate-driven geological instability. Because this route is a critical link for both the tourism economy and local logistics, the reliance on alternative paths for ski resorts suggests a fragile transport network where a single landslide can isolate major hubs from regional traffic.
