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Uruguay's transport and public works ministry (MTOP) and state rail administrator (AFE) have recently announced the tender process for rail rehabilitation PPP project in Uruguay.

Interested bidders can purchase the tender documents for the rail project on January 22, according to a release from Uruguay's presidential office.

The project involves the rehabilitation of a 141km freight rail line between the cities of Fray Bentos (Río Negro) and Algorta (Río Negro) in order to improve cargo transport. The tender process and construction works are expected to take a total of 2.5 years, AFE said. See tender document here.

AFE has already advanced 50% of the project to rehabilitate some 422km of rail line from the town of Pintado (Florida) to Rivera (Rivera), on the border with Brazil, through Mercosur's structural convergence fund (Focem).

Additionally, the Government is expected to open in the next days the final tender process for two road PPP projects:

• Upgrade, development, operation and maintenance of the routes 12, 54, 55 and 57 and the Carmelo bypass
• Upgrade, development, operation and maintenance of the routes 9 and 15.

Both projects will use an availability-payment structure, with the concessionaire being paid by the adequate state of the routes during the operation period.

In a press conference hold by the Ministry of Transport in mid December, Mr. Rossi also announced the schedule for four other road PPP contracts:

• Western stretch of Route 14 up to Sarandí del Yí - 17 March 2016
• Western stretch of Route 26 up to Tacuarembó - 17 March 2016
• Eastern stretch of Route 14 from Sarandí Yí to Rocha - 16 July 2016
• Route 6 Motevideo exit through Avenida de las Instrucciones - 16 July 2016

The government of Uruguay has plans to improve the country's road system. It is expected that several projects involving about 4,270 km of roads will be carried out.

In October 2015, we reported that a Sacyr-led team was selected as the preferred bidder to develop three sections of the route 21 and 24 through a PPP model. The 179 km road project will involve the development of the section 2 of the route 21 and the sections 2 and 3 of the route 24.