Autopistas Urbanas S.A.

Autopistas Urbanas S.A. (AUSA) is an Argentine highway operator responsible for the maintenance and operation of the urban toll highways within the limits of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Its principal shareholder is the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, making it a state-owned corporate entity. The company manages a network of major urban expressways and avenues, including the Autopista 25 de Mayo (AU1), Autopista Perito Moreno (AU6), Autopista 9 de Julio Sur, Autopista Dellepiane, Autopista Presidente Héctor J. Cámpora (AU7), Autopista Arturo Illia, Avenida Lugones, Avenida Cantilo, and Paseo del Bajo. AUSA's origins lie in the 1970s, when Buenos Aires faced severe traffic congestion: approximately 1.5 million vehicles circulated on about 2,500 km of streets and avenues laid out in a colonial-era grid that had become insufficient and anachronistic. Only two major rapid-transit corridors existed—Avenida General Paz and Avenida Dellepiane—and there was no direct route connecting the city to Ezeiza International Airport. After analyzing various options, the construction of urban highways was chosen as the best solution. The national government prepared a preliminary plan for a central road ring of 74 km in total length. On 10 June 1977, an international tender was held for the immediate construction of two highways: the Autopista 25 de Mayo (AU1) and the Autopista Perito Moreno (AU6). Under Law No. 3060, established in 2009, AUSA allocates up to 40% of the money collected to the maintenance of the highways under its charge; 5% is used for the permanent fund for subway expansion, and the remaining percentage is invested in public works commissioned by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. The company remains active and is a key piece of Buenos Aires' urban mobility infrastructure.

In the 1970s, access to the City of Buenos Aires was collapsing due to the growth of the vehicle fleet: approximately 1.5 million vehicles moved through 2,500 km of streets and avenues arranged in a colonial-era grid that was insufficient and anachronistic. At that time, only two major rapid-transit routes existed: Avenida General Paz and Avenida Dellepiane. There was also no direct route connecting the city with Ezeiza International Airport. Among all the possibilities analyzed, the construction of highways was chosen as the best solution. The National Government then prepared a preliminary project that defined the planning of what would become the city's future highways, forming a central road ring 74 km in total length. Thus, the Municipality of the City of Buenos Aires together with the National Government—then under the control of the dictatorship led by Jorge Rafael Videla—undertook the Urban Highway Plan with a toll regime. On 10 June 1977, an international tender was held for companies interested in the immediate construction of two of them: the Autopista 25 de Mayo (AU1) and the Perito Moreno (AU6). AUSA was established as the entity responsible for the maintenance and operation of the highways within the limits of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Its principal shareholder is the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. Over the decades, the network under its charge expanded to include the Autopista Arturo Illia, Avenida Lugones, Avenida Cantilo, Autopista 25 de Mayo-AU1, Autopista Perito Moreno-AU6, Autopista 9 de Julio Sur, Autopista Dellepiane, Autopista Presidente Héctor J. Cámpora-AU7, and Paseo del Bajo. In 2009, Law No. 3060 established a framework for the allocation of toll revenue: up to 40% of the money collected is destined to the maintenance of the highways under AUSA's charge; 5% is used for the permanent fund for subway expansion, and the remaining percentage is invested in public works commissioned by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. This law formalized the cross-subsidy model linking highway tolls to broader urban transport and public works financing. AUSA continues to operate and maintain these key corridors, which remain central to Buenos Aires' mobility.

• 2009

  Law No. 3060 established, allocating up to 40% of toll revenue to highway maintenance, 5% to subway expansion fund, and the rest to public works.

• 1977

  International tender held on 10 June for construction of Autopista 25 de Mayo (AU1) and Autopista Perito Moreno (AU6).

State-owned operator of Buenos Aires' urban toll highway network, combining toll collection with maintenance and public works funding.

• Autopista 25 de Mayo (AU1)

• Autopista Perito Moreno (AU6)

• Autopista 9 de Julio Sur

• Autopista Dellepiane

• Autopista Presidente Héctor J. Cámpora (AU7)

• Autopista Arturo Illia

• Avenida Lugones

• Avenida Cantilo

• Paseo del Bajo

1. 1AUSAausa.com.ar
2. 2Quiénes Somos | AUSAausa.com.ar
3. 3Trabajá con Nosotros | AUSAausa.com.ar
4. 4Autopistas Urbanas SAwikidata.org
5. 5Autopistas Urbanas Sociedad Anónimaes.wikipedia.org