More than 20 companies have expressed their interested in a second concession of the Talca-Chillan section of Route 5 highway in Maule region of Chile.

The road section concession is currently managed by Intervial Chile SA. Besides Intervial 21 other domestic and foreign companies showed interest in participating. Interested companies include Sacyr, Vías Chile, Besalco, FCC, Bice Inversiones, Aleática, Graña and Montero, Acciona, Global Vía Infraestructura, Bitumix, Cintran Global, OHL, Strabag, Dragados and Con Pax. In addition, three Chinese firms are interested: China Harbor Engineering Company, China Communications Construction Company and China Railway Construction Corporation.

The concession will be awarded to the bidder that offers the lowest rate to the user per kilometer traveled through the electronic toll gates. The new contract will have a fixed term of 25 years.

In order to give bidders a period of seven months to study their bids, the dates of receipt and opening of the proposals of the interested companies will be extended until the months of May and June, respectively.

The Talca-Chillan section is about 193 kilometers long, which includes a 54 km bypass, which will avoid passing through Talca. Due to the high traffic it has, it is one of the most anticipated works. In addition, it incorporates the construction of third tracks in some parts of the section and the incorporation of tele-tolling as a payment system.

The investment for the project reaches US$ 796 million. It was initially estimated at US$ 500 million, but the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) had to include seven additional works that increased the costs.

The new works that are considered in the route include two new crossings (17 north and Lircay), two integral improvements of existing crossings (2 north and Paroli), the elimination of the two lateral tolls that exist in Talca to improve connectivity; and the opening of step 8 south, which is closed at the moment.