Colombia readies US$1.2bn road corridor tender

Colombia's national government and Bogotá will sign the co-financing agreement for the 4.9tn-peso (US$1.2bn) Calle 13 corridor at the end of July.

Mayor Claudia López said in a video on social media that the bidding process will start immediately after signing. Construction should start at year-end.

The national government will contribute 3.5tn pesos and Bogotá the rest. Calle 13 will be the main access corridor for Bogotá and Cundinamarca region.

Part of the project are 11.4km of highway between Carrera 50 and the district's boundary at Río Bogotá, four lanes in each direction, a clean public transport lane, 13 Transmilenio stations, a main station and parking for 124 bi-articulated buses, as well as new platforms and bike paths.

The corridor is expected to benefit some 800,000 citizens of Bogotá and Cundinamarca.