Uff. I probably drove the route 100+ times 10 years ago when the road was 'ok' with only a few washed out places.
Last thing I heard, only someone with a 4-wheel drive burro, a machete, and survival rations would take that route to actually go to Santiago. I like their recommendation "You'll get more out of your sightseeing experience if you drive 35-45kph". What that really means is "you're slightly less likely to drive off a cliff".
Unless someone reports the conditions have improved, do drive slowly as much of the road is built into the side of the mountains and it's not unusual to come around a curve and find some or all of the road washed away. This was the case even when the road was in 'good' condition.
That said, I think I'll plan a trip to nowhere and see how the road is these days. Hope I can still get a cold Presidente at Tubagua for the ride back...:smoke: