The Chilean City in the Press: 4.5 Million Hectares of Wetlands to Be Protected and Metro Line 3 Begins Trial Runs

As Line 3 of the Santiago Metro begins its trial run on its way to becoming the Chilean capital's sixth line, other cities are starting studies to install cable cars and improve train frequencies. Meanwhile, biodiversity is celebrating great news. This and more in this edition of La ciudad chilena en la prensa, the ArchDaily section where we bring you updates on Chile's major cities.

Construction of the Biobío Museum of Memory Ruled Out for 2019
Concepción

Awarded through a public competition in 2016 to the design by Miguel Casassus + OF Arquitectos, the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Concepción was left out of the Ministry of Public Works' 2019 regional budget, as reported by La Tercera and Radio Cooperativa. While the national newspaper reports that the project was excluded due to its high cost per square meter (88 UF, equivalent to nearly 2,400,000 CLP), Concepción Mayor Álvaro Ortiz questioned this on Radio Cooperativa, stating that "certain technical reasons are being argued which, curiously, we were not aware of before."

Plan Presented to Protect 4.5 Million Hectares of Wetlands in Chile

On Wednesday, August 15, President Sebastián Piñera, alongside Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt, presented the National Wetland Protection Plan, a program that will initially seek to protect 250,000 of the 4.5 million hectares of wetlands in Chile. According to La Tercera, the project will allow wetlands to be classified "under the protection categories of Nature Sanctuary, Natural Park, or Protected Area, aiming to halt the degradation of these areas and preserve their biodiversity."

Santiago Metro Line 3 to Begin Trial Run in September
Santiago

With construction 95% complete, Metro Line 3 will begin its trial run in September, as reported by El Mercurio. Line 3 will be the metropolitan rail system's sixth line. Regarding its inauguration, the president of the state-owned company, Louis de Grange, told the newspaper that "between December and January, [we can] begin commercial operations on the line," which extends 22 kilometers between the municipalities of Quilicura and Ñuñoa.

Iquique to Update Original 1981 Master Plan

To control its growth, the northern city will finally update its zoning plan dating back to 1981, as reported by El Mercurio. The master plan will establish new height limits and urban expansion boundaries, as well as define economic activity zones: "Zofri's retail trade and its port, as well as tourism and mining," explained Iquique Mayor Mauricio Soria to the newspaper.

Coquimbo to Begin Feasibility Study for Cable Car Between Cruz del Tercer Milenio and the Waterfront

The School of Building Engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso will deliver a feasibility study in four months regarding the construction of a cable car in Coquimbo. According to El Mercurio, the cable car would connect the Cruz del Tercer Milenio with the waterfront and the historic Guayacán neighborhood, spanning a length of one kilometer.

EFE Aims to Improve Frequency and Service on Santiago-Chillán Route by 2021

The board president of the State Railway Company (EFE), Pedro Pablo Errázuriz, explained to local newspaper La Discusión that his administration aims to reduce travel time between Chillán and Santiago to less than four hours and increase daily services to five. Regarding recent commuter rail proposals throughout Chile, Errázuriz explained that "very large investments are needed, but as long as Transantiago mirror funds and passengers are available, it is feasible."

La ciudad chilena en prensa: discuten futuro del muelle Barón en Valparaíso y proponen rehabilitar Torre Villavicencio en Santiago

La ciudad chilena en la prensa es una nueva sección de ArchDaily en Español donde te contamos sobre los principales temas urbanas de las ciudades chilenas a lo largo y ancho del país. Es nuestra selección editorial con todo lo que necesitas para estar al día.