Paraguay provides updates on major infra projects

Paraguay’s public works minister, Arnoldo Wiens, has presented the country’s most important projects before the senate’s public works committee.

Several contracts involve multilateral financing, as public spending is restricted due to pandemic measures. 

The ministry plans to invest US$750mn this year, compared to the record US$1bn last year, as authorities do not want to further compromise fiscal targets.

MOST IMPORTANT PROJECTS

Tres Bocas intersection

Although the contract officially began on June 18, 2020, main work only started last week.

Taiwan funds the US$19mn project. It involves road improvements and a new 135m underpass at the intersection of the Acceso Sur, Avenida Américo Picco and Avenida Avelino Martínez roads in Villa Elisa city (Central department).

About 45,000 vehicles use the intersection per day.

Tecnoedil is carrying out works, planned to take 16 months.

Great Southern Hospital

This US$41mn project, also dubbed Encarnación regional hospital, is funded by the IDB. 

A tender was launched in June but bid opening was pushed back from August 12 to August 27 to include additional technical information from the health ministry (MSPyBS).

The contract entails the design and construction of a 250-bed hospital, including a helipad, on a 48ha site in Encarnación city near the border with Argentina.

Drainage works

Still in early planning stages, work is expected to start in 2022. Investment is US$23mn for drainage systems in the Asunción neighborhoods of Obrero, Tacumbu and Sajonia, as well as along the Ferreira river, including a 1.38km contention wall. 

Héroes del Chaco bridge

Construction on the US$130mn Héroes del Chaco bridge is underway. The budget recently increased by 14% due to design changes, including widening the navigation canal beneath the bridge’s central section, and building a second navigation canal beneath the western section, among other modifications. 

But the higher budget is still below the original estimates, according to the ministry. Works involve a 450m cable-stayed bridge and 7km of access roads linking Asunción and the town of Chaco’i.

The Unión consortium comprising CDD Construcciones and Heisecke is in charge of construction.