Concessionaire readies new EIS for US$500mn Bogotá highway

Concessionaire Ruta Bogotá Norte plans to present a new environmental impact study (EIS) for the US$533mn Accesos Norte II highway in Bogotá in December.

The company expects to obtain the environmental license in May 2025 and begin construction shortly after, it said in a statement posted on social media.

Early this year, environmental licensing authority Anla rejected the first request for a license because the submitted EIS contained technical deficiencies like not including analyses of the water and ecological networks of the Torca-Guaymaral wetland, a globally recognized ecosystem.

Accesos Norte II is aimed at improving the northern access to Bogotá, adding a divided highway to Carrera Séptima and includes road improvments. It also involves expanding the Autopista Norte corridors and a new exclusive lane for the Transmilenio bus system.

On November 6, Bogotá faced a mobility crisis caused by flooding that affected Autopista Norte, which was built 70 years ago in the wetland. But the area has been dry for years because the highway cut off the natural water flow.

The company said that the new EIS will integrate all recommendations and requirements made by authorities, it will include measures to ensure hydraulic and ecosystem connectivity, designs that allow the safe crossing of fauna and channeling water toward the wetlands, elevating the northern highway and preventing flooding.

The statement added that representatives of Ruta Bogotá Norte met with Bogotá water company EAAB and other officials to obtain Anla's final approvals.

“EAAB gave its approval on October 2 and the decision by the Urban Development Institute is pending, which will incorporate the opinions of the district entities that have already expressed their agreement with the concessionaire's proposals,” it said.

Accesos Norte II is part of the fifth generation project portfolio.The 29-year contract was awarded in March 2022.

The project is considered strategic for connecting north Bogotá and the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá and Santander.