Itata Route: Four companies submit bids to be awarded a new concession

Press release from the Ministry of Public Works of Chile

This is an automated translation of the press release issued in Spanish

This Friday, September 13, the Reception of Technical and Economic Offers for the Second Itata Route Concession , northern access to Concepción (Route 152), was held. This includes a 75.1 kilometer route located between the commune of Chillán Viejo in the Ñuble region and Concepción in the Biobío region.

The companies Intervial SA; Vias Chile SA; Sacyr and OHLA presented their technical and economic offers to develop the project, which involves an investment of 564 million dollars.

The Minister of Public Works , Jessica López, said that “after two years we are going to complete a process that will mean a new Itata route, with an improvement in its standard and safety conditions for users of the area. We hope that the economic openings that we are going to carry out precisely in Concepción, in October, will also bear fruit and that it will mean that we will finally have resolved part of what is one of the most important road junctions in terms of connectivity in the area.”

The head of the portfolio added that "it is very significant that we have four companies participating in this bidding process on a very important route for the connectivity of the Biobío and Ñuble regions and with a very significant investment amount, which demonstrates the interest that our infrastructure projects generate in the private sector."

It is worth mentioning that the road project, which involves an investment of UF 12,527,000 (MM USD 564) and a maximum concession period of 45 years, will improve the current safety and connectivity standards of the section of the route that runs through the municipalities of Chillán, Chillán Viejo, Ránquil, Florida, Tomé, Penco and Concepción; improving links and crossings, installing security cameras, lighting and acoustic screens, new local streets, cycle paths, walkways, bus stops and pedestrian circuits, incorporating free flow by eliminating toll booths, reducing the rate. In addition, congestion on urban route 150 will be reduced, thanks to the new connection between route 152 (Itata) and route 146.