Colombia's National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) awarded on Tuesday the Pacific Connection highway concession 3 to the consortium formed by Mario Alberto Huertas Cotes (75%) and Constructora Meco Sociedad Anónima Sucursal Colombia (25%).

The road project is part of the 'Autopistas de la Prosperidad' package. The package is formed by several highway PPP projects including the Pacific Connection highway concession 1, Pacific Connection highway concession 2 and Pacific Connection highway concession 3. These road concessions will allow Colombia's Atlantic Coast and Antioquia to connect efficiently with the "Eje Cafetero" and the Cauca valley, decreasing in 7 hours the travel distance between Medellin and Buenaventura port.

The team beat out competition from the consortium formed by Shikun & Binui Concessions (50%) and Grodco (50%).

This concession has an estimated investment of US$1.29 billion and it includes 231 km of roads, with 26 bridges and 6 tunnels.

The road concessions includes the following strteches: La Virginia - Asia,  Tesalia bypass, Tres Puertas - Irra, La Manuela - Tres Puertas, Irra - La Felisa and La Felisa - La Pintada.

In early June 2014, we reported that the ANI had awarded the Pacific Connection highway concession 1 to the consortium composed of Iridium Concesiones (40 %) and Episol SAS (60 %).

The project involves a total investment of P1.79 billion (US$943 million) and includes the construction of a dual carriageway with a length of 31Km and the upgrade and maintenance of the current road. The project includes the stretch Ancón Sur- Camilo Cé-Bolombolo.

On 22 May 2014, ANI awarded the Pacific Connection highway concession 2 to the P.S.F Concesión La Pintada consortium, which was the only bidder for the project.

The project cost is estimated at P910,000 million (US$470 million). The project includes the stretches of Bolombolo-La Pintada (44km) and La Pintada-Primavera (54km). The project also involves the construction of 69 bridges and a 2.5km tunnel in Mulatos.