Chile's public works ministry (MOP) will award the US$189mn Iquique access road concession on December 29, a ministry spokesperson told BNamericas.

 

The project consists of improving and expanding roads linking the region I capital city with the Diego Aracena airport, located some 30km away. Work will be carried out on the A-16 road, which connects to the Ruta 5 national highway, and the A-1 road.

 

The investment will be recovered through tolls and could also be supported through state subsidies.

 

Companies have until December 7 to submit technical and economic offers for the road concession, the spokesperson said.

 

MOP had initially set a bid deadline of early November, but the schedule was pushed back due to a number of changes made to the project.

 

The initiative is part of the ministry's plan to turn Chile's northern area into a Latin American development pole by improving connections with the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of South America.