At least five groups have shown interest in the public-private partnership auction for the Rodoanel de Belo Horizonte ringroad, which will take place 28 July.
Belo Horizonte, meaning beautiful horizon, is in Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The city is the country’s sixth largest, with a population around 2.7 million and a metropolitan population of about 6 million people.
The groups interested in what will be a 30-year public-private partnership contract worth around US$917 million are reportedly Acciona, Sacyr, CRCC, Construcap and ECB. The winner will build around 70km of highway, for the north and west sections only. According to Brazilian media, there will be options for the winner to build the south and east sections.
The contract winner will design, build, operate and maintain the free-flow tolled highway. No toll booths are planned and drivers will pay their tolls according to kilometers driven.
Fernando Marcato, infrastructure for Minas Gerais state, said safety has been a major issue on city highways where deaths frequently occur daily. The might be an argument for banning heavy trucks on the ring road, he noted.