Uruguay's Ministry of Transport has announced it has received an unsolicited proposal to upgrade and expand routes 14, 20, 26 and 55 through a public - private partnership (PPP) project.

The group is composed of nine companies: Colier, CSI Ingenieros, CVC, Díaz Álvarez, Hernández y González, Molinsur, Ramón C. Álvarez, Serviam and Tracoviax

The team of companies are said to invest together with an investment fund to create the "Fondo Vial", a SPV to invest in the project.

The total investment is estimated at US$557 million. The project involves the upgrade and expansion a total of 743.4 km alon routes 14, 20, 26 and 55. It also include the maintenance of the roads for a period of 10 years. The project aims to improve the east-west road connection.

The Government will now study the proposal and review its viability. If the proposal is tendered, the proposing team will have an advantage of 5 % in a potential tender process.

Uruguay recently approved a comprehensive PPP regulatory framework that will allow the further development of the public private partnership concept to develop infrastructure projects in the country.