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| National Route 22 (Argentina) | |
|---|---|
| Country | ARG |
| Type | National |
| Route | 22 |
| Length km | 685 |
| Direction a | West |
| Terminus a | Paso de los Libres |
| Direction b | East |
| Terminus b | Bahía Blanca |
| Provinces | Neuquén Province, Río Negro Province, La Pampa Province, Buenos Aires Province |
National Route 22 (Argentina) is a major east–west Argentine highway crossing the Neuquén Province, Río Negro Province, La Pampa Province, and Buenos Aires Province. It connects Andean and Patagonian regions with the Atlantic Ocean port city of Bahía Blanca, intersecting multiple national corridors such as National Route 3 (Argentina), National Route 5 (Argentina), and National Route 40 (Argentina). The highway links urban centers, industrial nodes, and agricultural zones while serving as a key segment in trans-Andean and coastal transport networks.
National Route 22 begins near the Andean foothills in Neuquén (city), passing through the Alto Valle of the Neuquén River, the irrigated fruit-growing areas around General Roca, and the city of Cipolletti. It continues east through the southern edge of the Pampas into La Pampa Province, skirting towns like Guatraché before entering Buenos Aires Province and terminating at the industrial and maritime hub of Bahía Blanca. Along its course the road intersects principal arteries including National Route 237 (Argentina), National Route 151 (Argentina), and National Route 33 (Argentina), providing access to airports such as Necochea Airport and rail nodes like Bahía Blanca Railway Station.
The corridor that became Route 22 traces origins to 19th-century colonial and postcolonial transit paths used during the Conquest of the Desert and early Argentine settlement. During the early 20th century, expansion of the Argentine railway network and agricultural colonization promoted paving and formalization of the track as part of national roadway plans influenced by ministries such as the former Dirección Nacional de Vialidad (Argentina). Mid-century modernization under administrations linked to presidents like Juan Perón and infrastructure policies from the National Directorate of Roads (Argentina) led to major upgrades including bridges over the Neuquén River and grade separations near urban centers such as Plottier. Late 20th- and early 21st-century projects associated with provincial governments and public-private partnerships in Argentina introduced duplications, resurfacing, and corridor safety programs aligned with regional development initiatives tied to institutions like the Inter-American Development Bank.
Key urban centers along the route include Neuquén (city), Plottier, Cipolletti, General Roca, Allen, Villa Regina, Choele Choel, Río Colorado, and Bahía Blanca. Major intersections and junctions connect to national and provincial routes such as National Route 40 (Argentina), National Route 237 (Argentina), National Route 151 (Argentina), National Route 3 (Argentina), and National Route 5 (Argentina). The corridor interfaces with logistics hubs like the Puerto de Ingeniero White near Bahía Blanca and supply chains serving agro-industrial firms headquartered in General Roca and Cipolletti.
Route 22 varies from two-lane undivided stretches to four-lane dual carriageways near high-traffic sectors. Pavement standards meet national criteria overseen historically by entities such as Dirección Nacional de Vialidad (Argentina) and provincial road agencies in Neuquén Province and Río Negro Province. Notable infrastructure includes the bridge spans over the Neuquén River and drainage works in the Pampa lowlands, rest areas near cities like Allen, and freight-oriented interchanges serving industrial parks adjacent to Bahía Blanca. Recent upgrades have incorporated concrete overlays and asphalt rehabilitation projects financed in coordination with banks and multilateral lenders including the World Bank.
Traffic composition includes long-haul freight trucks transporting commodities to Bahía Blanca port facilities, intercity buses connecting hubs such as Neuquén (city) and Cipolletti to Buenos Aires and southern provinces, and local commuter flows near metropolitan agglomerations. Accident and safety profiles have prompted interventions like signalization, median barriers, and speed enforcement systems tied to provincial traffic agencies in La Pampa Province and Buenos Aires Province. High-incident segments historically reported near junctions with National Route 3 (Argentina) and urban peripheries have been targeted by campaigns from organizations such as Asociación Argentina de Carreteras and regional road safety NGOs.
The highway is vital for transporting apples, pears, and fruit from the Alto Valle irrigation districts around General Roca to export terminals in Puerto de Ingeniero White and distribution centers serving Buenos Aires (city). It supports oil and gas servicing industries centered on Neuquén Basin developments, links agro-industrial complexes in La Pampa Province to national markets, and facilitates tourism flows toward Patagonia attractions and wine regions near Río Negro Province. Regional integration efforts promoted by provincial administrations and national trade policies use the corridor to improve competitiveness for exporters, logistics operators such as YPF contractors, and agribusiness firms with ties to chambers like the Confederaciones Rurales Argentinas.
Category:National roads in Argentina