Colombia continues to invest heavily in its transport connections, with the prospect of more contracts to come.
Colombia continues to invest heavily in its transport connections, with the prospect of more contracts to come. The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the 3120 Urban Development Institute have jointly produced a report that recommends building new highways to improve traffic links from capital Bogota. In all 14 new road corridors will be built to connect Bogota to the rest of the country and to help reduce congestion. The report suggests that the roads should be tolled and the deals are likely to be offered in four different concessions of 169.5km each. The construction work is expected to cost in the region of US$2.1 billion in total. Meanwhile details are also now available on the project to build the second section of the Ruta del Sol highway, which will link Puerto Salgar with San Roque. This project is expected to cost $1.26 billion with funding being supplied by seven banks. Funding for the 530km highway project will come from 1305 Odebrecht, CSS Constructores y Estudios, Proyectos del Sol, Bogota, Occidente, Popular, 3121 AV Villas, 3123 Bancolombia, 3125 Davivienda and 3127 Helm Bank. The work is due to start in the first quarter of 2011 and is due for completion in 2016.