Cuenca-Azogues Highway Night Closures Continue Through Early April

What's Happening

If you've been wondering why the Cuenca-to-Azogues highway has been blocked at night recently, here's the answer: nightly closures from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM are in effect as construction crews install beams for the Monay interchange near the Hospital del IESS.

The closures started on March 10 and are scheduled to continue for 30 days, putting the expected end date around April 9. They affect the Cuenca-to-Azogues direction only -- if you're coming from Azogues to Cuenca, you should be able to pass normally.

The Detour

When the highway is closed, drivers are rerouted via the IESS roundabout. The detour adds time to your journey but is well-marked. If you regularly travel this route at night -- whether for airport runs to Cuenca's airport (which is technically in the Azogues direction), late-night returns from the coast, or any other reason -- factor in the extra time.

The Bigger Picture

The beam installation is part of a much larger $43 million infrastructure project to upgrade the Cuenca-Azogues highway corridor. The project is currently approximately 24% complete and has a 24-month construction timeline.

When finished, the Monay interchange will significantly improve traffic flow at one of the most congested points on the highway -- the area near the IESS hospital where highway traffic, local traffic, and hospital visitors all converge in a chaotic bottleneck. Anyone who's sat in that backup during rush hour knows how badly this interchange is needed.

But infrastructure projects of this scale mean months (realistically, years) of construction disruptions. The night closures are just the current phase -- expect periodic disruptions along this corridor through 2027.

What This Means for Expats

• If you have a late-night or early-morning flight from Cuenca's airport (which requires taking this highway), add at least 20-30 minutes to your travel time to account for the detour
• The closures are 11 PM to 4 AM only. Daytime travel is unaffected, though construction equipment and reduced lanes may slow things down
• The detour via the IESS roundabout works but can be confusing if you're not familiar with the area. If this is your first time hitting the detour, use GPS navigation
• This is just the beginning. The overall project has months of construction ahead. Get used to periodic disruptions on this corridor
• If you commute to Azogues (some expats do, for work or cheaper shopping), be aware of the nighttime closures and plan your return trips accordingly
• Road construction sites in Ecuador often have minimal lighting and signage compared to what you might be used to in North America or Europe. Drive carefully through construction zones, especially at night

The Monay interchange will be a significant improvement when it's done. In the meantime, patience and route planning are your best tools.

Source: El Mercurio