After record traffic, Paraguayan authorities announced seven new toll booths and an electronic payment system. The Ecovía toll registered 51,639 vehicles between Saturday and Sunday, a sharp increase compared to around 34,000 vehicles during the same period in 2024. The surge followed the transfer of operational management to the private company Rutas del Este, which assumed control on 1 January 2026. Officials said the volume exceeded expectations, prompting immediate and medium-term measures to reduce congestion and waiting times.
Most of the increase occurred during peak holiday travel hours, as residents and tourists headed towards San Bernardino. Although Rutas del Este now manages daily operations, toll revenues continue to be deposited into a trust account overseen by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), ensuring public oversight of funds.
Expansion plans and electronic toll system
The MOPC confirmed plans to build seven additional toll booths: four in Ypacaraí and three at the Ecovía. The expansion aims to improve efficiency, particularly during weekends and holiday periods.
Authorities are also preparing an experimental electronic toll system, allowing frequent users to purchase passes in advance, similar to the model used on the Caaguazú–Ciudad del Este route. If successful, the system could become permanent.
New payment methods and operational changes
Operators suspended QR code payments during the weekend to address congestion. Drivers can now pay in cash, by debit or credit card, or via Apple Pay and Google Pay. Staff also implemented on-the-spot payments in traffic queues to speed up vehicle flow.
“On Sunday, three exit booths from San Bernardino and one booth in the opposite direction were opened to manage the unusually high traffic volume,” said Rocío Carmenjane, Project Coordination Officer for Operations at the MOPC. The use of bidirectional booths forms part of the operator’s contractual strategy.
With traffic volumes rising year after year, officials say these measures are essential to modernise toll operations and accommodate growing mobility demands around Asunción and nearby tourist destinations.
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