The Colombian National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) has approved the "Magdalena River highway 1" PPP project as a private initiative.

The project, also called 'Vías del Nus' in the private initiative proposal, will link the regions of Antioquia and the Caribbean. The project means the ninth road private initiative approved by the Government.

This concession, which belongs to Autopistas para la Prosperidad highway package, includes 159 Km, 6 tunnels and 126 bridges. Specifically, the project includes the following:

• development of a new 9.6 km dual carriageway road between Pradera and Porcesito,
• development of a new 5.1 km dual carriageway road between Porcesito and Quiebra tunnel,
• development of two 4.1 km tunnels in Quiebra,
• development of the 5.5 km Cisneros bypass,
• maintenance of a 97.4 km road between Bello and Hatillo and between Hatillo and Don Matías, and
• upgrade of a 35.7 km road between Cisneros and Alto de Dolores.

The total project investment is estimated at US$961.8 million. 

The project is part of the second wave of 4G highway projects, including a total of 9 concessions. This second wave includes a total investment of about P11,800 billion (US$4.64 billion). 4G involves the construction of about 8,000km of roads, including 1,200km of four-lane highways, with the majority of projects to be carried out as PPPs.

During the last 30 days we have reported on the commercial closure of the Sea highway 1 'Autopista al Mar 1′ PPP project and the Santa Ana - Mocoa - Neiva highway PPP project. During the same period a total of  three road PPP projects achieved financial close in the country (Girardot-Puerto Salgar, Cartagena - Barranquilla and Pacific Connection highway concession 3) and a total of 3 teams submitted final bids for the Sea highway 2  "Autopista al Mar 2".