Mexico's Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT) announced that OHL México has been selected as the preferred bidder for the construction, operation and maintenance during 30 years of the Atizapán-Atlacomulco highway in the state of Mexico.

OHL Mexico beat out an infrastructure-development company owned by Mexican multi-billionaire Carlos Slim, Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo en America Latina, by offering to build the highway at a cost of 5.86 billion pesos ($449 million) and to charge a standard toll per vehicle of 148 pesos ($11.30) for the entire route.

IDEAL offered to build the road for 6.7 billion pesos ($512.2 million) and charge a toll of 140.60 pesos ($10.70) per vehicle.

OHL Mexico has until April 30 to start building the project, which is to be completed on that same date in 2016, according to the tender dossier. The deadline for the highway to begin operating is May 15 of that year.

The project consists of building a 74 km six and four lane highway, in specific stretches, to give a new exit to the western region of the county to the traffic flows of the Mexico City Metropolitan Area.

The project will offer the user a direct exit from the northwest Mexico City Metropolitan Area to Morelia, Guadalajara and other western cities, and will complete the missing link on the direct route between  Mexico and Guadalajara.

OHL México is one of the largest operators in the private sector of concessions in transportation infrastructure in Mexico and is the leader of its sector in the Mexico City metropolitan area in terms of number of concessions assigned and kilometers managed. The Company's portfolio includes six toll road concessions, five of which are in operation and one in the pre-construction phase.

The company has a 49% stake of the concession company of the Airport of Toluca, which is the second-largest airport serving the Mexico City metropolitan area. OHL Mexico initiated operations in 2003 and is directly controlled by OHL Concesiones of Spain.