Minister López announces the call for tenders for the new Route 5 on the Caldera-Antofagasta section

Press release from the Ministry of Public Works of Chile

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

During the visit of the Minister of Public Works , Jessica López, to the Atacama Region, the announcement of the long-awaited project that will raise the standard of connectivity in the north of the country stood out. The President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric, signed the tender for the expansion to a dual carriageway of the section of Route 5 that connects Antofagasta with Caldera .

This will allow raising the standard of a 466 km stretch of that road, from the north of the municipality of Caldera, to the “La Negra” sector in the municipality of Antofagasta. This includes updating road safety and signage on the route, improving access to the route, treating slopes, widening to a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction, including new bridges, junctions, walkways, return roads, bus stops, pedestrian sidewalks and lighting and landscaping works.

In this context, the head of the MOP reported that “this decree allows us to call for tenders for Route 5 on the Caldera-Antofagasta section, a 466-kilometre section, the largest we have, and which is expected not only by the entire local population, but also by the entire mining industry, which deserves a high-standard, two-way route, with 5 new bridges, 5 up and down links, around 40 walkways and return lanes. A high-level highway for the north of Chile.”

For her part, the Mayor of Caldera, Brunilda González, highlighted the announcement: “The good news continues from the voice of our Minister of Public Works, representing the government of President Gabriel Boric. In October, the bidding for this dual carriageway begins, where Caldera started the dual carriageway to the south and now will start it to the north. 900 million dollars of investment from this Government, with which we will be able to connect in what is mining, but also in tourism, and that brings special joy to Atacama and Caldera.”

Project Description

The project includes an extension of 466 km (from the north of the municipality of Caldera to the “La Negra” sector in the municipality of Antofagasta). It consists, in general terms, of the expansion of Route 5 to a dual carriageway, in addition to the improvement, construction, maintenance and operation of the pre-existing works.

Likewise, 4 general service areas are being considered to enhance areas of territorial interest and 48 level returns, 21 walkways and pedestrian circuits. The links will be in Flamenco, Chañaral / Taltal Sur commune, Taltal / Taltal Norte commune, Antofagasta commune. The new bridges will be the Pan de Azúcar Bridge (2 bridges), the Ruta 5 Río Salado Bridge and the Barrio Nuevo Bridge (Río Salado).