The Government of Aruba has announced that three bidders has been shortlisted to bid for a new road PPP project for the island, the Watty Vos Boulevard.

The three shortlisted teams are the following:

• Construtora Queiroz Galvão S.A.
• Grupo Odinsa S.A.
• A consortium formed by Mota-Engil Colombia S.A.S., Mota-Engil Peru S.A.S. and Mota-Engil Engenharia e Construcão S.A.

The work involves rebuilding some 7km of road along a 17km stretch as well as upgrading 12 intersections and building two overpasses around Oranjestad between intersection Sabana Blanco and intersection Punta Brabo.

The project will be developed on a design, build, finance and maintain basis for a period of 22 years, the construction period is estimated at about 2 years, and the other 20 involves the maintenance of the road.

The total cost of the project is estimated at around US$120 million.

It is expected that the dialogue phase will start in early August and will continue till the end of the year. The final submissions are scheduled for the beginning of 2015.

PwC is the transaction advisor to the contracting authority. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the local legal firm Sjiem Fat &Co. are part of the team.

The objectives of the project are the improvement of  traffic flows and shortens travel times and improves road safety through delivery of new infrastructure between Reina Beatrix and L.G. Smith Boulevard / J.E. Irausquin Boulevard, the relocation of the existing port of Aruba to Barcadera, and the improvement of the appearance and traffic safety in low-rise hotel zone.