Seven bids submitted for US$525mn Colombian road project

The Colombian government has received seven bids in a public tender for the 2.07tn-peso (US$525mn) Puerto Salgar-Barrancabermeja road project, which is part of the 5G road infrastructure concession program.

The project, also known as Troncal Magdalena 1, is intended to provide a 260km divided highway from Puerto Salgar to Barrancabermeja, directly benefitting seven municipalities in Santander department. 

The works involve the construction of a second roadway and connections, and improvement and rehabilitation of the existing roadway.

The firms or groups that submitted offers are: 

1. Estructura Plural Nuevo Magdalena 1, formed by Acciona Concesiones de Infraestructuras SL (50%) and Cintra Latam Highways BV (50%); 
2. Estructura Plural Valle del Río 1, made up of Infrastructura y Prosperidad SAS (25%), Strabag BRVZ AG (74%) and Strabag SAS 1%; 
3. Estructura Plural Ruta al Magdalena Puerto Salgar-Barrancabermeja, which includes OHL Infraestructuras SAS (50%) and Termotécnica Coindustrial SAS (50%); 
4. Estructura Plural  Autopista Magdalena Medio, formed by KMA Construcciones SAS (50%) and Ortiz Construcciones y Proyectos (50%); 
5. Estructura Plural del Rio Grande 1, made up of Interconexiones Viales SPA (75%) and Construcciones El Cóndor (25%);  
6. Estructura Plural Troncal Magdalena, comprised by Odinsa (40%), Pavimentos Colombia SAS (30%) and MHC Engineering SAS (30%); and
7. SACYR Concesiones Colombia SAS.

National infrastructure agency ANI said that the public hearing on the award of the contract will be held on May 25.

This corridor, along with the Troncal de Magdalena 2 road (Sabana de Torres-Curumaní), will complete the works for the Ruta del Sol Sector 2, which is considered essential to improve connections between the interior of the country and the Caribbean coast.

The following projects have so far been awarded in the 5G concession program: the Cali-Palmira access of the new Valle del Cauca road network; ALO Sur and northern accesses 2. 

Meanwhile, bidding processes are still underway for the Troncal del Magdalena 2 (Sabana de Torres-Curumaní) and Buenaventura-Buga highways.