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| Ruta CH-23 | |
|---|---|
| Country | Chile |
| Type | CH |
| Route | 23 |
| Length km | 192 |
| Direction a | West |
| Terminus a | Calama |
| Direction b | East |
| Terminus b | Paso de Jama |
| Regions | Antofagasta Region |
Ruta CH-23 is a Chilean national route traversing the high plateau between the city of Calama and the Paso de Jama border crossing with Argentina. The road links the coastal Andean corridor with trans-Andean transport routes serving international trade, mining, and tourism. It passes near key nodes such as San Pedro de Atacama, the Salar de Atacama, and the Llullaillaco volcanic complex, intersecting indigenous territories and protected areas.
The road begins near Calama and proceeds northeast across the Altiplano, skirting the eastern margin of the Salar de Atacama and providing access to the Valle de la Luna and Pukará de Quitor tourist attractions. It continues past Toconao and through the municipality of San Pedro de Atacama, then climbs into high Andean puna landscapes approaching the Salar de Talar and the Salar de Miscanti basin. Near the upper reaches it rises toward the Paso de Jama international pass adjacent to the Chile–Argentina frontier and close to the Llullaillaco and Ojos del Salado volcanic systems. Along its length it intersects with mining access roads serving operations run by companies such as Codelco and Antofagasta PLC, and connects to secondary routes toward the Chuquicamata complex and the Calama Airport.
Originally a network of indigenous and caravan trails used by the Atacameño people and later Spanish colonial expeditions linking the Pacific settlements to the Puna de Atacama, the modern sealed carriageway was developed during the 20th century to support mineral extraction and regional integration. Postwar investments accelerated under administrations that prioritized mineral exports, with significant upgrades during the tenure of presidents like Salvador Allende and Augusto Pinochet to support copper logistics. The opening of the Paso de Jama corridor and bilateral accords with Argentina in the late 20th century increased international freight, prompting paving and realignment projects supported by the Ministry of Public Works (Chile). Tourist traffic growth associated with sites like El Tatio and Valle de Marte further influenced incremental improvements.
Key junctions include the link to the feeder serving Chuquicamata and the intersection with the route toward Calama Airport; connections provide access to the Salar de Atacama research stations and observatories associated with institutions such as the European Southern Observatory and projects near ALMA. The eastern terminus at Paso de Jama interfaces with Argentine provincial routes in Jujuy Province and Salta Province, forming part of continental corridors between the Pacific Ocean ports of Antofagasta and Valparaíso and hinterland markets in Cordoba, Argentina and Buenos Aires. Freight movements often link with railheads serving the Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia historic alignment and with logistics centers operated by companies like BHP.
Traffic composition includes heavy goods vehicles transporting concentrates from mines operated by firms such as SQM and Antofagasta PLC, buses servicing tourists bound for San Pedro de Atacama and the Atacama Desert attractions, and cross-border freight between Chile and Argentina. Seasonal peaks occur during southern hemisphere summer holidays and during export surges tied to global commodity cycles for copper and lithium. Traffic management must accommodate convoy movements for oversize mining equipment from logistics providers and shuttle services run by tour operators including vendors servicing destinations like Laguna Miscanti and Salar de Tara.
Administration falls under the Dirección de Vialidad (Chile) within the Ministry of Public Works (Chile), with maintenance contracts often tendered to regional construction firms and consortiums that undertake pavement rehabilitation, snow clearance at high elevations, and bridge upkeep. Funding instruments have included national budget allocations, mining-related public–private agreements, and emergency repair funds following extreme weather events. Safety programs coordinate with the Carabineros de Chile for traffic control and with provincial authorities for border-management procedures at Paso de Jama.
The route traverses fragile ecosystems including Paso de San Francisco-adjacent puna grasslands, high Andean wetlands (bofedales) near Laguna Miscanti, and saline salar systems such as the Salar de Atacama that host endemic species and habitats important to the Atacama Desert biosphere. Elevation ranges exceed 4,000 metres near the pass, exposing infrastructure to hypoxic conditions, thermal extremes, and high insolation associated with the Andes rain shadow. Environmental assessments for works along the corridor engage stakeholders including the Atacameño community and conservation bodies concerned with migratory bird sites and archaeological assets like the Pukará de Quitor.
Planned initiatives include pavement upgrades to improve axle loads for heavy mine haulage, safety improvements such as additional pullouts and avalanche monitoring near high passes, and coordinated logistics hubs to streamline cross-border trade under bilateral frameworks with Argentina. Proposals have been discussed to enhance tourist facilities serving sites like El Tatio and to integrate alternative energy projects—solar and wind—leveraging proximity to arrays developed by companies such as Enel Chile and Mainstream Renewable Power. Environmental mitigation in upcoming projects emphasizes consultation with indigenous organizations and alignment with conservation aims championed by agencies including the Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente.
Category:Roads in Antofagasta Region