Uruguay's government aims to tender the maintenance and operation of national highways 21 and 24 in 1Q11, national development corporation (CND) project evaluation manager Marcelo Perez told BNamericas.

 

"The investment to be made in these projects is estimated at US$150-200mn," Perez said, adding that the maintenance contracts will last 20 years.

 

"We are waiting for congress to approve the new concessions law before publishing bidding rules," Perez said. The law, which aims to regulate public-private partnerships, will be presented to congress by year-end.

 

The two highways total 170km and run from Nueva Palmira city in southwestern Colonia department to the Ruta 1 highway near Paysandu city.

 

Marcelo Perez was speaking on the sidelines of the BNamericas Southern Cone Infrastructure Summit, held in capital Santiago from October 6-8.