27/07/2015

The 80 km long Pasto-Rumichaca motorway provides a connection with the border with Ecuador.

The National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) has awarded the contract for the construction and concession of the Pasto-Rumichaca motorway, part of the Fourth Generation of New Motorways of Colombia program, to the Estructura Plural SAC 4G consortium, led by Sacyr Concesiones (60%) and Herdoiza Crespo (40%). The contract has a planned investment of US$1,073 million (approximately €967 million). Sacyr Concesiones will manage the motorway for 25 years.

The project consists of the construction of a second 80 kilometre carriageway between Pasto (capital of Naríño Department) and Rumichaca (on the border with Ecuador), 6 intersections, 2.6 kilometres of tunnels and 1.5 kilometres of bridges, culverts and viaducts.

The project will link the municipalities of Rumichaca, Pupiales, Gualmatan, Ipiales, Iles, El Pedragal, Funes and Pasto, and also includes the construction of alternatives routes to Ipiales, Las Cruces, San Juan and Pedregal.

At the opening of tenders ceremony, the Vice-President of the Republic, Germán Vargas Lleras, noted that "the Pasto-Rumichaca motorway is a magnificent project that will provide a connection with the south of the country and, at the same time, with the neighbouring country of Ecuador, which will boost the economies of both countries and of the region. This corridor will reduce the journey time between Pasto and the border town of Rumichaca from two hours to one".

The Minister of Transport, Natalia Abello, pointed out that this project includes the implementation of measures for the management of traffic flows and permanent supervision of the road, "as an operational control centre for monitoring traffic and responding to emergencies, which will have surveillance vehicles, tow trucks, a mobile workshop and ambulances".

The execution of this fourth generation motorway project will create some 5,500 jobs during the four years of construction, while bringing benefits to some 600,000 inhabitants throughout the department of Nariño.

This is the third concession that Sacyr Concesiones has won in Colombia, after being awarded the refurbishment, improvement and operation of the 202 kilometre Corredor 5 between Puerta de Hierro and Cruz del Viso with an investment of some US$275 million, and the 176 kilometre motorway to the Sea 1 (autopista al Mar 1) with a planned investment of US$1 billion.

Sacyr Concesiones strengthens its position in Colombia with this project and enhances its presence in Latin America, where it already has 11 assets (a highway in Peru as well as six highways and a hospital in Chile). Sacyr Construcción also has a major project in process in Colombia after recently winning a contract to build the cable-stayed "Pumarejo" bridge over the Magdalena River in Barranquilla, at 2.28 km the longest bridge in Colombia and the country's largest public work with an investment of 223 million euros. In addition, Sacyr is responsible for the construction of two sections of highway: one from Cali to Buenaventura for 103 million euros and the road between the towns of Málaga and Los Curos in the department of Santander for 31.5 million euros.

This contract is in line with Sacyr's global strategic objectives for its core businesses of construction, infrastructure concessions, services and industry, increasing its market share and ability to face greater business challenges. Achieving these objectives will establish Sacyr as an international leader in the sectors and countries in which it operates.

Project´s videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyzZhkyjAr4

N.P_Construction and concession of the Pasto-Rumichaca motorway
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