The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has selected the company VíasChile SA as the new concessionaire of the Second Concession of Route 5, Santiago-Los Vilos Section.

The project includes expanding, improving and maintaining 218.3 km of Route 5 North, extending from Quilicura (10.8 km) to Los Vilos (229.1 km). In addition, the new concession will include the management of the El Melón Tunnel, totaling 223.4 km of road infrastructure under concession. This is one of the main roads in the country, connecting the Metropolitan Region with the regions of Valparaíso and Coquimbo. The total estimated investment in the project amounts to UF 28,288,000, equivalent to more than USD 1.1 billion, allocated to the modernization and maintenance of the infrastructure.

The concession contract establishes a series of interventions to optimize road safety and connectivity in the area. Among the most relevant improvements, it contemplates the expansion of capacity from three to four lanes in each direction between the Buenaventura junction and the Batuco and Liray junction, and 102 km of expansion from two to three lanes in each direction, from Batuco-Liray to the southern junction of the El Melón Tunnel (except the Las Chilcas slope), in addition to the construction of new service roads to improve local circulation in communes such as Lampa, Tiltil, Llay-Llay, Hijuelas, Nogales, La Ligua and Pichidangui, in addition to new pedestrian walkways with universal accessibility, the renovation of bridges and road junctions and the updating of road signage and markings.