National Route 3 (Argentina)

Ruta Nacional 3 ("National Route 3") is an Argentine highway, stretching from the eastern side of the country in Buenos Aires, crossing the provinces of Buenos Aires, Río Negro, Chubut Province, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego. Since its start at Avenida General Paz (A001) until the end, on the bridge over Lapataia River, it measures 3,045 kilometres (1,892 mi).

Map of Argentina, showing Route 3, in red

The road is interrupted between km 2674 and 2696, due to the presence of Magellan Strait, which forces access between Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego Provinces through Chile, over Ruta CH-255 and Ruta CH-257 paved 57 kilometres (35 mi) north of the strait and another paved and treated 148 kilometres (92 mi) long south of it. The crossing of the Magellan Strait is done in 20 minutes through the use of a ferry traversing the width of 4.65 kilometres (2.89 mi) at that point.[1]

After National Decree 1931 of 3 August 1983, this road is called Comandante Luis Piedrabuena south of National Route 22, that is starting at km marker 719.[2]

Cities

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These are the main (over 5,000 inhabitants) cities and towns joined by this route, North to South. In the provinces of Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego towns under 5,000 inhabitants are marked in italics.

Buenos Aires Province

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National Route 3 freeway along the southwestern Greater Buenos Aires suburb of González Catán.

Length: 949 kilometres (590 mi) (from km marker 14 to 963).

Río Negro Province

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National Route 3 over the Río Negro, between Río Negro and Buenos Aires Provinces.

Length: 339 kilometres (211 mi)(km 963-1304)

Chubut Province

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Length: 552 kilometres (343 mi) (km 1304-km 1856)

Santa Cruz Province

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Stretch of National Route 3 through Cañadón León, Santa Cruz Province.

Length: 818 kilometres (508 mi) (km 1856-km 2674)

Tierra del Fuego Province

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Length: 363 kilometres (226 mi) (km 2696-km 3059).

Tolls

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In 1990 administration and maintenance of the most travelled roads was given to private companies with rights to collect tolls dividing the areas in "Corredores Viales" ("road corridors"). "Servicios de Mantenimiento de Carreteras" (Semacar) company, took charge of Corridor number 1, which includes Route 3 between km markers 19 and 677, in Buenos Aires Province, from the joining with Provincial Route 4 in San Justo to Bahía Blanca, with tolls collected in Cañuelas (km marker 78), Azul (km marker 263) and Tres Arroyos (km marker 523).,[3][4]

In 2003 the concession contracts expired, which led to a modification of corridor numbers and a call for a new public bid. Corridor Vial number 1 is now given to "Empresa Rutas al Sur" and runs from km marker 62 to 677 which corresponds to the crossing of Provincial Route 6 in Cañuelas until it joins National Route 252 in Grünbein.[5]

References

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34°41′7.9″S 58°33′37.8″W / 34.685528°S 58.560500°W / -34.685528; -58.560500