Local sources announced that Chile's Public Works Ministry (MOP) has raised by 13% the budget for the Américo Vespucio Oriente highway concession in Santiago de Chile due to changes in urban landscape works and urban road connections.

This fact was confirmed to bidders in clarifications to tender documents. MOP also extended the deadline for groups to submit their proposals from November 22 to December 30.

Chile's Public Works Ministry (MOP) said the budget initially estimated at around US$860 million would now go up to US$975 million for the 40-year concession that entails building and operating a 9.3km underground expressway running from El Salto avenue to Príncipe de Gales avenue under the current Américo Vespucio beltway.

The Government will open the economic proposals for the highway concession on January 20, 2014.

MOP announced in 2012 that 14 firms had been prequalified for the project.

The highway is the missing link of the city's beltway. The rest of stretches were built more than seven years ago and they are operated though a system of free flow tolls, which form a pioneer system in the world.

Vespucio Oriente highway will be built on two levels, each with a three-lane expressway. In July, the Government announced that the project would be split in two to reduce complexity.

The responsibility for the highway final stretch will be passed on to the new government. Michelle Bachelet had already expressed her opposition to splitting the tender.