Ecuador's roads plan includes 2 new highways

Ecuador plans to contract in the coming months studies for two new highways: Quito-Guayaquil and Cuenca-Guayaquil, connecting the three most important cities in the country.

During the presentation of the national roads plan, President Guillermo Lasso said the aim is to award the two highways before the end of his government in 2025.

The highways are not included in the budget of around US$5.2bn for repairs, maintenance and widening of various routes, for which public-private partnerships are planned.

"We’re going to hire international studies so that the best firms in the world help define these projects to reduce the time of transportation between Quito and Guayaquil and reduce logistics costs," said Lasso. "The same for the Cuenca-Guayaquil highway."

Meanwhile, transport and public works minister Marcelo Cabrera said he received private initiatives for the Quevedo-Manta, Montecristi-La Cadena and Loja-Catamayo roads.

The three routes need investment of US$236mn and should be put out to tender this year or early 2023.

The El Descanso-Gualaceo-Paute road should also be put out to tender next January or February.

In addition, the government plans to launch tenders in 2023 for the Cuenca-Girón, Molleturo-El Empalme and Girón-Pasaje roads, as well as the Monay interchange.

The Lasso government also plans to invest some US$600mn this year repairing various highways, including Latacunga-La Maná in the center of the country.

Roberto Salas, the technical secretary of PPPs and delegated management, told BNamericas earlier this month that the Lasso administration plans to award concessions for more than 14 roads by 2025.