Mexico's transport and communications ministry (STC) has announced that 13 companies are competing for the Tuxpan-Tampico highway concession in Veracruz state.

The deadline to submit proposals has been extended. Interested parties must submit their technicals proposals on or before July 31st and economic proposal on or before August 21st. The preferred bidder is expected to be announced in mid September.

On July 17th, these 13 companies attended the signature of the initial plans and layouts event:

• Mota Engil México,
• Compañía Constructora La Peninsular,
• Acciona Infraestructura México,
• Constructora y Edificadora GIA+A,
• Controladora de Operaciones de Infraestructura (ICA Group),
• Grupo Promotor de Desarrollo e Infraestructura,
• México Compañía Constructora,
• Constructora Teya,
• Planificación Total SA
• Promotora del desarrollo de America Latina
• TRADECO Infraestructura
• OHL México
• Coconal,

The new road will start from the junction with the Tihuatlán-Tuxpan highway and will end at the connection with the Tuxpan-Tampico federal highway in Tamaulipas. Works includes building  a 159km highway, with a cross section of 12m wide, considering two traffic lanes of 3.5 meters each one and road shoulders of 2.5 meters. The project also includes five bypass junctions and 60 structures.

The project, which aims to improve road connections between central Mexico and northeast states, is part of the 2013-2015 Infrastructure Investment Program. The project involves the construction, operation and maintenance of the road for a period of 30 years. The total investment is estimated at P6.3 billion (US$475 million).

In July 2013, Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht submitted an unsolicited proposal for the project to the SCT after the approval of the new Public Private Partnership (PPP) law that allows unsolicited proposals.