Driving to the Coast? The Cuenca-Molleturo Road Is About to Get a Whole Lot Better (Eventually)

If you've ever white-knuckled your way down the Cuenca-Molleturo-El Empalme highway toward the coast, there's good news and "brace yourself" news.

The Ministerio de Infraestructura y Transporte (MIT) is gearing up to begin major construction in June 2026, targeting the worst stretches of a road that's been a sore spot for years. The project — funded by a $21.5 million World Bank loan — will tackle critical points at km 49, 57, 90, 92, and 105, plus the notoriously tricky Loma de la Virgen sector between km 7 and 30.

What's Already Happening

Prep work is underway. According to Mario Vintimilla, the MIT's subsecretario zonal 6, crews have already cleared roughly 30,000 cubic meters of debris from recent landslides. Topographic surveys are being conducted at the critical kilometer markers, and subdrainage work has started at km 15 in the El Molino sector.

The contractor handling the job is RIPCONCIV Construcciones Civiles Cía. Ltda., with the contract signed in March 2026.

The Timeline

Here's what matters for your coast trips:

• June 2026: Major construction begins
• Duration: 18 months
• Provisional completion: December 2027

That's a year and a half of potential delays, detours, and single-lane stretches on an already challenging road.

What This Means for You

If you regularly drive to the coast — whether for beach weekends, seafood runs, or airport connections through Guayaquil — plan for longer travel times starting next month. The Cuenca-Molleturo route is the most direct path to the coast for most Cuenca expats, and there's no great alternative while construction is ongoing.

The silver lining: once it's done, this should be a significantly safer, smoother drive. The World Bank financing suggests serious oversight on the project quality.

Source: El Mercurio