Chile’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has received three offers for the Orbital Sur de Santiago highway PPP project in Santiago.

The new Orbital Sur highway is a 24 km extension connecting the communes of Peñaflor, Calera de Tango, and San Bernardo in the Metropolitan Region. With a USD504 million investment, it significantly reduces travel time between these areas by up to 30 minutes and provides direct links to Southern Access, Route 5 South, and Route 78. This project marks the first section of the second road ring in the region, in conjunction with the Orbital Norponiente project. The highway runs parallel to the Maipo River, connecting Acceso Sur to Route 5 South, avoiding congested areas, and enhancing connectivity for vehicles traveling from Peñaflor and San Antonio Port to Route 5 and south of Greater Santiago. The project includes five essential links, improving connectivity with Route 78, Peñaflor, Lonquén, Route 5, and South Access.

The project encompasses various enhancements, including uneven crossings in key locations like La Primavera, Los Tilos, Camino Independencia, El Barrancón, and Padre Hurtado. It also involves the maintenance and creation of pedestrian walkways in San Bernardo, the development of local roads in Peñaflor and San Bernardo, and a new two-way accessibility in Peñaflor. Additionally, improvements to Camino Lonquén, including widening and an uneven crossing, aim to alleviate traffic congestion, along with landscaping, LED lighting, speed change lanes, intersections, and cycle path enhancements.

The proposals submitted at the reception event were from Grupo Costanera SpA, Intervial Chile SA, and Acciona Concesiones SL. The bidding process will proceed with the Economic Bids Opening on November 30, 2023. Following this stage, the contract for the project is anticipated to be awarded in Q1 of 2024. Construction of the Orbital Sur de Santiago may commence in 2027, with operations expected to begin in 2030.