The Colombian Government is investing in road infrastructure development, with a large portion of the budget being directed to Bogota. The road infrastructure programme includes 22 projects that will help cut chronic congestion in Colombian capital Bogota. Construction works for Avenida Longitudinal de Occidente (ALO) road expansion are expected to start in the first half of 2016. These will run from the Mondonedo intersection to Boyaca Avenue, in the southern part of the city. The budget for this project is close to US$517 million.
There are also plans to commence works on the Autopista Norte highway, with the work being carried out in two phases and bids being accepted by Colombia's National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) until 17th June 2016. Should ANI not receive any suitable proposal, the public-private partnership (PPP) will then be awarded to the Promesa de Sociedad Futura consortium, which submitted the original offer for the initiative. With an estimated budget of $152.7 million, the project will add two more lanes to a 4.2km stretch of the Avenida Norte route, from the 245th street to La Caro district. This project will also include converting 5km of Septima Street into a double lane road, as well as building 2.1km of dual carriageway to connect Hatogrande and Cajica areas of the Bogota district.
Another project is for a new bridge spanning the Bogota River at Calle 80 Avenue, in the north west of the city, with this work expected to start in the first half of 2016. Road toll fees will remain at existing levels despite the various projects.
Some of the public-private partnership (PPP) plans currently being studied include the Avenida Circunvalar, in eastern Bogota, the extension of ALO road to the centre of the city, as well as the renovation of Avenida Boyaca's main lane. In addition, Bogota's western ring road, Circunvalar de Occidente, will be upgraded.
