Southern Cone infra and water watch

BOLIVIA

The first two lines of the Cochabamba light rail service will start operations in September, although conflicts between national and local authorities are hindering development of the third line. 

The shortest line, dubbed the red line, runs 5.5km between San Antonio station and the faculty of agronomy at Universidad Mayor de San Simón. It required an investment of 256mn bolivianos (US$37mn), according to information from the public works ministry.

The second line, green, covers 27.3km between the municipality of Sipe Sipe and San Antonio station and cost around 937mn bolivianos (US$136mn).

However, despite an agreement between the national and city governments regarding the design of the 7.7km yellow line, public works minister Édgar Montaño claimed that municipal workers are “assaulting” construction staff.

ARGENTINA

The Mendoza provincial government will start paying companies carrying out public works every 30 days instead of every 60 days, in order to support construction firms affected by surging supply prices.

“We’re being forced to have more rapid financial practices,” provincial infrastructure minister Mario Isgró was quoted as saying by daily El Sol. Although local construction executives told the same paper that the new payment schedule has not yet begun. 

According to local construction material suppliers association Red Edificar, so far this year cumulative inflation for construction supplies has reached 47.7%, and there is a real risk that it could reach 80% by the end of the year. 

CHILE

The government will transfer 65bn pesos (US$71mn) for 627 public works projects across 226 municipalities aimed to improve neighborhood infrastructure.

Waterworks will be the focus of the largest slice of the funds, with 16.3bn pesos, followed by lighting works which will cost around 11.1bn pesos, the government said in a release. 

In terms of location, the Araucanía region in the south of the country will receive the biggest investment, with 11.7bn pesos, while the Metropolitan region will receive around 11bn pesos.