Deadline for Quito road proposals set for April 30

The mayor of Ecuadoran capital Quito, Pabel Muñoz, announced that the private sector has until April 30 to present proposals for a public-private partnership (PPP) to expand and improve two important roads in the city: Avenida Simón Bolívar and Ruta Viva.

In the coming days we will have a meeting [with possible interested parties] in which we will confirm that the deadline to receive the initiatives is at the end of April. In May we will assess them and in June-July the process will be announced and launched,” Muñoz said during his weekly work report.

The mayor added that the process is complex and has to ensure legal certainty for both the municipality of Quito and the private companies, so it may only be in late 2025 or early 2026 when the contract is awarded.

Muñoz said that if no offers are received from the private sector, the works would be carried out and managed by the capital's public mobility company, EPMMOP.

The two roads are located in the east of the city and tolls are one of the options being considered to finance the works.

The works on Avenida Simón Bolívar would cost US$107mn and maintenance US$7.68mn per year, according to initial estimates by the municipality.

The works outlined include improvements to 56.4km within 18 months, the installation of 25 pedestrian bridges and the implementation of tolls, as well as the construction of an additional 6.9km in 36 months.

The 30-year contract entails financing, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance and operation of the road.

Meanwhile, the project for Ruta Viva has a reference cost of around US$75mn and maintenance will be an additional US$2.15mn per year. It includes improvements to 12.8km within a period of 12 months, in addition to the construction of a new 4.3km section within 36 months, as well as the construction and maintenance of bridges, interchanges and access ramps.

The contract would also be for 30 years.