Colombia presents US$1.5bn transport infra plan

Colombia's 2050 intermodal transport plan for the southern Bolívar and Bajo Cauca-northeast Antioquia areas involves 6.5tn pesos (US$1.5bn) for 123 projects in 20 municipalities.

Works include highway improvements and new roads, bridges, passenger and cargo piers, and the modernization of the airport in Antioquia's El Bagre city.

Of the total investments, 6.19bn pesos are earmarked for 91 road projects, and the balance is for 31 fluvial transport initiatives and the airport.

The plan was designed together with the communities to ensure that actions and investments reflect local needs, the director of transport infrastructure planning unit UPIT, Martha Constanza Coronado, said during its presentation.

Fluvial projects will include the Magdalena, Cauca, Nechí and Cimitarra rivers.

Among the regional coordination projects are the Cantagallo-Yondó highway and five bridges across the Magdalena River.

"The plan is the result of a collaborative effort that involves diagnosing the territorial reality. We have taken into account the characteristics of the population, socioeconomic aspects, environmental, social and even political considerations to develop a roadmap that is realistic and, at the same time, transformative," Coronado said.

In August, UPIT presented the 2050 Pacific region intermodal plan, which also includes cable car projects and entails investments of 13.8tn pesos.

This plan covers 39 municipalities along the Nariño border and in Altopatía, and northern Cauca.