Spotlight: Two key road projects for El Salvador in 2023

El Salvador's finance ministry recently presented congress with its proposed budget for 2023, which includes spending of US$8.9bn, nearly 11.7% more than was approved for 2022. 

Although the details of the funds for public infrastructure projects are not yet known, the public works ministry (MOP) has stated that El Salvador will see the largest investment in this area ever.

“In a few days [the ministry of finance] will formalize the amounts assigned to each of the ministries. What I can say is that we will have the largest investment in public works in the history of El Salvador in 2023,” minister Romeo Rodríguez said in an MOP release. 

BNamericas takes a look at two of the most important projects highlighted by the MOP, which will require combined investments of more than US$500mn.

Expansion of the Panamerican highway (Los Chorros section) 

This US$412mn project involves works on 15km of roadway and includes the construction of a viaduct and the widening of the highway to eight lanes, between the Monseñor Romero and CA01W highways, in the municipalities of Santa Tecla, Colón and San Juan Opico, in La Libertad department.

The works are divided into three sections but will be carried out under a single contract, currently being tendered under the ID number LPIR NO. 01/2022. According to the tender schedule on procurement platform Comprasal, proposals from all interested parties will be received on October 31. 

The expansion is part of the west corridor master plan and the objective is to improve mobility, security and logistics in that part of the country, promoting both regional and national trade.

Expansion of CA02W highway, Surf City route 

This US$203mn expansion covers 23km between El Obispo beach and El Zonte beach, in the tourist area of Surf City in La Libertad department. 

It has been divided into three stages:

El Faro to Conchalío bridge (6.24km), Conchalío bridge to Xanadú access road (8.1km) and Xanadú to El Zonte (8.3km). 

Roads conservation fund Fovial recently published tenders LP 077/2022 and CP 063/2022 on the Comprasal platform for the supervision and construction of this project. More details can be found here. 

“We have wrapped up the engineering for sections two and three, and we hope that we can launch tenders for those next year at the latest,” Rodríguez said in separate release.