ANI has awarded the Infraestructura Vial para Colombia consortium the Santa Ana - Mocoa - Neiva highway PPP project in Colombia/Ecuador.

The Colombian National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) made the announcement on June 9th, moving forward on the project which will reduce travel time between Bogota and Quito by 6 hours.

The wining consortium consists of the following firms: Controladora de Operaciones de Infraestructura S.A  de CV (35 %), Cass Constructores y Cia (20%), Carlos Alberto Solarte Solarte (20 %), Estyma (10%), Latinoamericana de Construcciones (10 %) y ALCA Ingeniería (5 %). The team beat out competition from Concesionaria Vías del Desarrollo 4.

The project involves the development of 22 km of four-lane highway, 32 km of two-lane highway and the renovation of a 422 km road. It also includes the development of 3 tunnels and 3.5 km of bridges and viaducts.

With an investment cost of P$1.5 billion (US$587.6 million), the consortium will soon commence work on the highway.

ANI president, Luis Fernando Andrade, stated:

"[This] is a clear example of intraregional integration in Colombia, and our country with Ecuador. We are very pleased with this breakthrough, made of such a transparent and efficient manner. This project will benefit the agricultural, industrial and tourism sectors of this important region. With this mega annual work more than 7,500 direct jobs will be created during the construction phase."

 Colombian Vice President, Germán Vargas Lleras, commented:

"The work of this highway is essential for connectivity to the southern departments of the country and Ecuador."

Of the 9 projects in the second wave, this is the fourth highway to be awarded by the ANI. The first wave resulted in 10 highways, all of which are operational.