The National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) in Colombia has announced that the 5G Pasto-Popayán highway, which is currently in the structuring process, will be awarded next year. The road will be a part of Fifth Generation or 5G road concessions in Colombia. 

The 268 km long project will connect Pasto in Narino departments and Popayán in Cauca department. The road will feature 35 km of double road and 63 km of single road as well as the improvement of 157 km and the rehabilitation of 84 km. The project will also feature 9 km of tunnels. 

The development of the project will involve the investment of COP 4500 billion (USD 1.14 billion million) in total. The high investment that the work will demand is due to the fact that said corridor has geological instability.

The track is estimated to save freight vehicles about three hours in addition to enormous logistical costs.

The project is to be launched in the second wave of 5G projects.

The development of Nariño and Cauca departments are a priority for the current government of Colombia and for this reason this project was considered strategic, despite the existing fiscal limitations. "We want to build a future with greater equality through these projects. We are connecting lives with equity and working to bring Colombians closer, " said Manuel Felipe Gutiérrez, President of ANI.