Construction of the Monay-IESS Interchange: A $36 Million Road Project Begins

CUENCA – The highly-anticipated Monay-IESS traffic distributor project, a key infrastructure work for mobility in the city, has officially entered its construction phase. With an awarded investment of $36,292,647.42 and an execution period of 730 days (approximately 2 years), this project aims to alleviate congestion on the Cuenca-Azogues highway and improve connectivity in the Ecuadorian Austro region.

On Wednesday, July 30, President Daniel Noboa led the groundbreaking ceremony, marking the formal start of the work. The project was awarded on April 22, 2025, to the company RIPCONCIV Construcciones Civiles Cía. Ltda., following a process that experienced some delays.

The new interchange is much more than a simple overpass. Its comprehensive design, which will have a maximum height of 6 meters to allow for clear passage, includes:

• Two elevated overpasses with three lanes each.

• Two at-grade roads to facilitate traffic flow.

• A central roundabout beneath the main overpass.

• An underpass to connect Calle Cusco with the highway in the direction of Azogues.

• The expansion of the access road to the IESS hospital.

The project is expected to benefit a daily traffic volume of between 35,000 and 80,000 vehicles, providing a long-term solution for one of the city's most congested points and creating approximately 300 direct jobs in its initial phase.

While preliminary work began in the days prior, the partial closure of the Cuenca-Azogues highway is scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2025. The technical manager for RIPCONCIV, Paúl Acosta, noted that the objective is to minimize the impact on mobility.

The mitigation plan, developed in coordination with the Municipal Mobility Directorate, includes several key detours:

• Azogues-Cuenca Traffic: The lane in this direction will be affected, while the flow from Cuenca to Azogues will remain open.

• Avenida 24 de Mayo: This avenue will be enabled as a one-way parallel route to the highway.

• Calle Moyo Mamba: It will be converted into a one-way, two-lane road to facilitate rejoining the highway.

• Avenida Max Ule: This avenue will function only as an exit route.

• Rayoloma Road Roundabout: It will be eliminated and replaced with traffic-light-controlled intersections.

Additionally, alternate routes will be activated, such as the San José Santa Marianita del Vergel and El Despacho-El Valle roads, to help alleviate congestion in the sector. The IESS roundabout will remain operational for the first 8 to 10 months of construction.

As part of the comprehensive plan to manage traffic flow during construction, several urban bus routes will be temporarily altered. Lines 4, 13, and 16 will be subject to significant changes, with new provisional stops being established to serve commuters.

Line 15 will also see minor modifications to its route through the construction zone. These adjustments are designed to keep public transport running smoothly while minimizing disruption. However, some community members have expressed concerns about the lack of public awareness regarding the new routes, suggesting that wider avenues could be better alternatives.

For a full breakdown of the specific route changes for each bus line, including the new stops and which sections of road will become one-way, refer to our detailed article on the subject.

This interchange is the first of four that the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP) plans for this road corridor. Minister Roberto Luque announced that within two months, tenders will be published on the SERCOP portal for two other traffic distributors: at Avenida 12 de Octubre and Gapal, with a combined cost of $55 million. Luque also noted that future contractors will be required to present a mobility plan that incorporates the lessons learned from the Monay-IESS project.

With this series of projects, authorities are seeking a definitive solution to Cuenca's mobility problems.