The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has opened the economic offers for the Second Itata Route Concession (Northern Access to Concepción) that will improve the connectivity between the regions of Biobío and Ñuble, Chile.

Sacyr Concesiones Chile S.pA. presented the most attractive proposal for the State, for UF 15,919,078. The other companies that participated in this bidding process were Intervial Chile SA, Inversiones en Infraestructuras Chile SpA and Vías Chile SA. The next step is the award of the project, estimated for Q1 of 2025. If this is the case, the construction phase of the new structures and works would begin in 2029 and would come into operation in 2033.

The project involves an investment of UF 12,527,000 (USD 564 million), which will allow for updating the safety and service standards of 96.1 km of route, including 75.1 km of Route 152; 14.1 km of Route 158 and a new 6.9 km connection, which will directly connect Route 152 with Route 146. The Itata Route concession covers the municipalities of Chillán Viejo, Chillán, Ránquil, Florida, Tomé, Penco and Concepción. The new concession includes, for existing routes, the rectification of the layout, rehabilitation of pavements, and updating of road safety and signage on the routes. On Route 152, meanwhile, it considers the uniformity of the median width, the incorporation of containment barriers, the widening of 22.4 km of berms and the development of a third lane of 4.6 km in length on the south roadway. On the other hand, 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 the use of 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.