Chile’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has received only one bid for the Ruta Nahuelbuta road project (Highway 180).

A consortium of local developers Besalco and Constructora Belfi submitted the only bid for the project. In 2012, Besalco submitted an unsolicited proposal to extend Road 180 near Nahuelbuta National Park. 

The economic bids are going to be opened on 14 September.

The government announced that 13 companies acquired tender documents for the project: Belfi, Besalco, CAM Holding, China Harbour Engineering, Cintra, Cintra Global, Concesiones Viarias Chile Tres, Constructora Valko, OHL Concesiones, Sacyr, Salini Impregilo, Techint Chile, and Vinci.

Highway 180, between the cities of Los Angeles (Bío Bío Region) and Huequén (Region of Araucanía), is a simple two-way carriageway whose capacity has been surpassed by current traffic flows, causing it to offer low safety and operational standards. 

Works entail improvements on 55 km of the Highway 180 highway, expanding the road to four lanes and building a bridge over the Biobío river in the Coihue district. The construction of 22 footbridges, installation of rainwater drainage, and improvements to signage and lighting will also be included in the project. The development will increase the road's traffic capacity and safety levels.

The project has an official budget of US$241 million with a concession period of 35 years.

This project will improve connectivity between the municipalities of Negrete, Nacimiento and Los Ángeles in the VIII Region, as well as the municipalities of Angol and Renaico i Region.

MOP launched the tender process for the concession in November 2016. The initial deadline for submitting proposals was January 2017, but was then postponed three times. According to sources, the delay in the tender was at the request of prospective bidders, many of which were also planning to bid on the AVO II project.