The Diplomat
The Spanish construction company Sacyr has signed a contract for the concession of the Buga-Loboguerrero-Buenaventura highway, in the Colombian region of Valle del Cauca (west), a strategic state project in which it will invest 800 million euros.
According to the company and the Spain-Colombia Council Foundation, the concession is 128 kilometers long and has a second carriageway corridor of 118 kilometers. To carry out this project, Sacyr will invest 800 million euros (4.2 billion pesos) in the road. The signing of the contract took place last August 30 in Bogota.
“This strategic corridor in the southwest of Colombia will improve connectivity between the interior of the country and the port of Buenaventura by reducing travel times and improving road safety,” Sacyr said in a press release. With the execution of these resources, it is estimated that 66,570 direct, indirect and induced jobs will be generated. Likewise, it will allow to continue with the reactivation of the economy to increase the competitiveness of the department of Valle del Cauca. In addition, this dual carriageway will reduce CO2 emissions produced by the vehicles that circulate along the corridor.
The project, executed for the Agencia Nacional de Infraestructura (ANI), includes the upgrading of 155 kilometers of existing road, the rehabilitation of 15 kilometers, the improvement of 33.7 kilometers, and the construction of 35 kilometers of new road (second carriageway). The project includes the maintenance and operation of a total of 244 kilometers.
The pre-operational stage of the project will last five years and will include slope stabilization, the construction of two short tunnels and the replacement of electromechanical equipment in the 17 existing tunnels. Subsequently, the contract provides for the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure for 27 years.
Sacyr’s investment in its projects in Colombia exceeds 3,000 million euros, including four 4G road projects. The company has generated 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in the regions where it operates.
