Spanish firm keen to develop Chilean projects

Spanish infrastructure firm 5729 Abertis is keen to develop a series of projects in Chile. In all the projects are worth over US$900 million. Abertis has presented these projects to Chile's Ministry of Public Works. This move follows the acquisition by Abertis of the remaining 50% stock holding in the country's Autopista Central motorway concession. This was bought from Canadian fund manager Alberta Investment Management (AIMCo) for over $1 billion. The projects Abertis is presenting to Chile's Ministry of Public Works involve improvements to the local roads that it currently controls. These projects are expected to be carried out over a five year period. The projects include the construction of third lanes on Ruta 68 and Ruta 78, works on Autopista Central's Quilicura junction and transforming Los Libertadores highway into an urban road from Santiago to Colina. This last project will also include the installation of a free flow toll system.