Paraguay orders construction start on bioceanic highway

Paraguay's public works minister Arnoldo Wiens signed the construction start order for the resurfacing contract of the Loma Plata-Carmelo Peralta road stretch, which is considered the first section of the bioceanic highway to link Chile's ports on the Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic coast.

The contract, awarded last year under a turnkey model to Consorcio Corredor Vial Bioceánico, has a 2.3tn-guaraníes (US$386mn) budget, according to bidding documents, and a 40-month deadline a public works ministry (MOPC) press release said.

The project involves repaving a 277km stretch between the municipalities of Loma Plata (Boquerón department) and Carmelo Peralta (Alto Paraguay), and building four bridges.

In 2020, the ministry is planning to tender the second and third sections of the bioceanic corridor, which include total investments of US$800mn and works on 573km between Cruce Centinela (Chaco department) and the town of Pozo Hondo (Boquerón) near Argentina, also under a turnkey model.