Access Roads to Las Bambas
The following is a schematic diagram (Figure 2.4.?) of the road network between
Las Bambas and Tintaya.
As can be seen, the approximate distance between Tintaya and Las Bambas is
280 kilometers; the road is in bad condition. The principal difficulty is a great deal
of development is necessary for crossing the canyon of the Santo Tomas River and
its tributaries.
Las Bambas can be alternatively accessed from Cuzco, 270 kilometers distance
via a road, most of which is in average condition and which has large development
for crossing the deep canyon of the Apurimac River.
The following table shows the existing bridges and their characteristics.
Section
Name
Leng
th (m)
Wi
dth
(m)
Ma
x.
Load,
tonnes
Type
River
Crossed
Yauri/
Kero
10.0
3.0
30
Steel
Apurimac
Sto. Tomas
Upamayo
30.6
3.7
33
Concr
Cuchumayo
Chaychapo
ma
21.0
3.8
24
12.4
4.5
15
24.4
3.8
24
Ampuro
Velille
ete
Steel
Chalcobamb
a
Concr
ete
Huacahuaca
Velille
Steel
Sto. Tomas/
Colca
33.5
4.0
24
Challhuahu
acho
Anfor
12.5
3.5
18
Molinopam
30.5
4.0
24
21.4
3.2
15
pa
Calicanto
Steel
Colca
Concr
ete
Steel
Steel
Anfor
Chilhuancay
o
Colchaca
Challhuahu
acho/
Challhuah
uacho
27.5
4.0
24
Palcara
11.5
3.7
18
Huallpacha
82.4
3.6
33
12.0
3.6
18
Steel
Challhuahua
cho
Ferrobamba
Challhuahu
acho/Tambom
bamba
Cotabamba
s/
ca
Inquillapat
a
Choquemay
Concr
ete
Steel
Concr
ete
Palcaro
Apurimac
Choquemayo
o
Variant Roads
In order to facilitate the movement of heavy traffic between Tintaya and Las
Bambas, cartographic evaluations of possible variant rates for the Tintaya-Santo
Tomás-Las Bambas road was made in order to show the numerous schemes to
descent into the deep canyons of the Santo Tomás River and its tributaries. The
design of the initial portion is acceptable enough with rectilinear and flat sections
and which can easily be improved.
Leaving Tintaya by the road to Santo Tomás, the planned variant starts at the
turn to the town of Cayarini, for some 18 kilometers on to Velille.
Based on the utilization of pseudo maseta or the division of waters that exists in
the region, the main idea for the variant in great part for the switchback roads that
border the headwaters of the Santo Tomás River up to the Huanacopampa airport,
and remake the access to Challhuahuacho and Ferrobamba.
In general, the new road is placed mainly in the valley and plains, crossing each
higher gorge. The length of this variant has been estimated at 160 kilometers as
compared to the 140 kilometers of the road from Santo Thomás, but has the
advantage of flat sections, so that the variant is rectilinear enough, although the
access to each canyon and crossing can be sinuous and rocky.
2.4.2
Power - Dick Addison has this