The government of Uruguay, through the Minister of Transport and Public Works Enrique Pintado, has launched a tender process to develop three sections of the route 21 and 24.

The 179 km road public private partnership (PPP) project will involve the development of the section 2 of the route 21 and the sections 2 and 3 of the route 24. This new road will link the main ports of the country.

Mr. Pintado said during an event presenting the project last week that the two routes are considered strategic for he country. Route 21 is very important because it carries most of the grain transported in the country and route 24 transports wood production.

The project could also involve the development of two bypasses, one in Dolores and one in Mercedes.

The project will be developed on a design, build, finance, operate and maintenance basis. The contract period will be 24 years. The concessionaire will be remunerated via availability payments.

Construction works are set to begin by 2015. The project is expected to be finished in 36 months after construction works start.

This year we have reported about 4 PPP projects in Uruguay:

• Montevideo - Carrasco International Airport concession
• Aguas Profundas port PPP project
• Penitentiary Center PPP project
• Upgrade and expansion of routes 14, 20, 26 and 55