Intermodal stations' pre-qual closes next week

The pre-qualification process to build and operate two intermodal transfer stations in Santiago closes August 29, a spokesperson from the public works ministry's concessions department told BNamericas. One of the stations will be built at Quinta Normal, the northern terminus of a 1.93km extension of metro line 5 under construction, at a cost of US$25mn. The other station will be built in La Cisterna, southern terminus of metro line 2, as well as that of a future complementary stretch of Line 4 that is under construction. This station will cost US$20mn. To date, six groups have pre-qualified, with technical offers for Quinta Normal and La Cisterna due September 30 and October 30, and economic offers October 7 and November 6, respectively, said the official, without releasing names. The stations are an integral component of Santiago's US$1.62bn urban transport plan Transantiago, which aims to create a modern integrated bus and subway network by 2005, which is expected to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.