The Argentinian government has signed a $156 million contract with Hidrovía to renovate railway lines and bridges connecting the northeastern Port of Barranqueras, which should be operating at full capacity within 2 1/2 years. The company will also acquire new wagons and rehabilitate existing rolling stock belonging to the Belgrano Cargas railway, which serves the port. The restored rail link should allow Barranqueras to re-establish itself as Argentina's third port. Previous policy had seen development of coastal facilities, at the expense of the Paraná River Port, resulting in Barranqueras losing practically all its traffic.