Gualaceo's Bus Terminal Is Deteriorating Four Years After Opening

A bus terminal that should have helped organize travel in Gualaceo is now becoming a warning sign for passengers and transport operators.

El Mercurio reports that the Terminal Terrestre de Gualaceo was inaugurated on April 13, 2022, after three years of construction and an investment close to $3 million.

Four years later, the report says the terminal is deteriorating and is not profitable.

What Is Broken

The disembarkation area shows major deterioration. El Mercurio reports that the asphalt was fully removed, along with base and sub-base material, creating a sinking area that does not allow vehicles to access the zone for passengers to get off.

For now, the boarding area is handling both boarding and disembarkation. The report says that area was once concrete, but is now deteriorating quickly because of excessive use.

The entry and exit guard booth for buses also has serious damage. Luis Tapia, manager of the Santiago de Gualaceo cooperative, told El Mercurio that workers there deal with dust in summer and mud when it rains.

Why Operators Are Worried

Tapia said the situation is dragging operators toward the edge of bankruptcy. He pointed to weak controls on seals, which are used to make sure buses from other cooperatives enter the canton and arrive directly at the terminal instead of picking up passengers along the way.

He told El Mercurio that since sustained controls stopped, buses often travel with 4, 5, or at most 10 passengers.

Another bus administrator, Rene Salazar, said operators are thinking about leaving the terminal, saying the disembarkation area is dead and does not work.

The Local Response

Juan Bernardo Alvarez, acting manager of G-MOVEP, told El Mercurio that the maneuvering yards and terminal infrastructure will soon receive maintenance, but said the issue is a lack of resources.

He said the terminal currently works with six people controlling bus seals, while it actually needs at least 8 or 9.

The terminal operates from 05:00 to 22:00, with 11 boarding platforms and seven disembarkation platforms, according to the report.

For expats who use Gualaceo for day trips, shopping, family visits or onward travel, this is worth knowing: the terminal is still operating, but the passenger experience and transport economics are under strain.

Source: El Mercurio