The Chilian Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has announced that four companies have submitted their bids for the new Itata Route Concession (Northern Access to Concepción) which connects the regions of Biobío and Ñuble.
For the Second Itata Route Concession offers were submitted by Intervial Chile SA, Inversiones en Infraestructuras Chile SpA, ViasChile SA, and Sacyr Concesiones Chile S.p.A. The economic offers are scheduled to be opened on October 11, 2024, in the Biobío Region, with the concession expected to be awarded in Q1 of 2025. Construction of the new structures would begin in 2029, with operations starting in 2033.
The project, which involves an investment of USD 564 million, includes a total length of 96.1 km, including the improvement of 75.1 km of Route 152; 14.1 km of Route 158 and a new 6.9 km route, which will directly connect Route 152 with Route 146. The Ruta del Itata concession covers the municipalities of Chillán Viejo, Chillán, Ránquil, Florida, Tomé, Penco and Concepción. The project will allow the improvement of the pre-existing infrastructure, and the development of new works, with special emphasis on road safety, in addition to the maintenance and operation of the route. The project involves correcting the layout and rehabilitating pavements, making the medians more uniform in width; on Route 152, it includes the addition of containment barriers, the widening of 22.4 km of berms, and the development of a third lane 4.6 km long on the southbound roadway. Furthermore, the new connection between Route 152 and Route 146 will have a double carriageway along its entire length and will connect Route 152 with Route 146 (Concepción Cabrero Highway), being an alternative to Route 150, especially for trucks heading to the ports.
The project also includes 7.8 km of new service roads and cycle paths; improvements to 2.5 km of existing service roads; 10 new interchanges; improvements to 6 existing interchanges; a new Itata River Pedestrian Bridge; a new bridge and two viaducts on the New Connection. In line with the modernization of intercity motorways, electronic toll collection will be implemented with a free-flow gantry.
