Ecuador prioritizes 4 infra projects for the private sector

As part of plans to increase private participation in the state road network from 17% to 40% by May 2025, when the government term ends, Ecuador's transport and public works ministry is preparing tenders for 12 projects, four of which are high-priority ones and involve combined investments of over US$1bn. 

Tenders for the Viaducto Sur de Guayaquil viaduct, also known as Quinto Puente or Cruce Sur, should be launched in 2023, while processes for the Guayaquil-Quito highway, the Guayaquil-Cuenca highway and the Manta-Quevedo highway are planned for 2024 and 2025.

Viaducto Sur de Guayaquil

Initial investment is expected to amount to US$725mn.

The project comprises the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a four-lane highway to expedite access to Guayaquil, especially the port facilities, channel traffic from the south of the country to the south of Guayaquil, and connect to Durán.

Part of the project is a 2.8km-3.4km bridge across the Guayas river and 41.5km of access roads and links to Guayaquil port, the city’s south and to El Oro province.

The terms of reference are in development. A pre-feasibility studies tender is planned for January and the feasibility one for April. Contract signing is scheduled for May 2024.

Guayaquil-Quito highway

Investment for construction of the 267km infrastructure is US$134mn.

Currently, the processes to contract the pre-feasibility studies in February are underway. Feasibility studies should be contracted in December 2023 and the construction tenders be launched in July 2024. Contract signing is scheduled for February 2025.

Guayaquil-Cuenca highway

The 171km highway is expected to demand US$85.7mn for construction.

The transport and public works ministry is currently working on the processes to contract the pre-feasibility studies in February. The feasibility studies are planned to be contracted in December 2023 and a construction tender for July 2024, with contract signing expected for February 2025.

Manta-Quevedo highway

Building the 192km highway will demand US$86.4mn.

The pre-feasibility studies would be contracted in January. The World Bank supports the process with a view to completing the studies by July, when the feasibility studies should be contracted, transport department spokesperson Lorena Marín told a recent infrastructure summit.

The tender is planned for May 2024 and contract signing for December that year.