Chile’s Ministry of Public Works, through the General Directorate of Concessions, is advancing the Conexión Vial Ruta 78–Ruta 68 (COVI) highway project with Grupo Costanera in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, connecting the Ruta 78 and Ruta 68 corridors to improve access to the ports of San Antonio and Valparaíso.

The concession project includes a 9.4-km road corridor, representing an investment of approximately US$262 million. It will connect both points of the Maipú and Pudahuel districts in just 5 minutes, in addition to decongesting other highways and facilitating the transit of cargo transport to the ports of San Antonio and Valparaíso. Its objective is to improve connectivity between Pudahuel and Maipú with the eastern sector of Santiago and facilitate access to the port cities of San Antonio and Valparaíso, in the Valparaíso region, allowing Route 68 to be connected with Route 78 in approximately five minutes.

The project will consist of an expressway with a dual carriageway, three 3.5-meter lanes, and 2.5-meter outer shoulders. The route will have direct connections to three highways currently in operation: Costanera Norte, Route 68, and Route 78. The new concession includes among its main works: Two viaducts over Route 78 and the Zanjón de La Aguada, two overpasses on the main routes of Route 68 and Route 78 and two bridges called Zanjón de La Aguada South and North.

Additionally, the initiative includes the construction of grade-separated intersections and two-way service roads that will add up to more than 6 km. Also included are a bike path and pedestrian walkway, implementation of SOS telephones, construction of protective fences that delimit the concession area, sanitation works, signage and road safety, and lighting.

The works, which began at the end of 2025, will be completed by the end of 2027 and include the hiring of approximately 1,000 workers at the peak of the construction phase.