Ruta 68

This contract comprises the second P3 agreement concerning Ruta 68 in Chile, the highway that connects along 141 km the Chilean capital, Santiago, with the coastal cities of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. It joins two of the most important urban areas in the country.

The project consists of the improvement, construction, maintenance, and operation of the existing road as well as its widening works. These labors will involve widening the lanes in both directions between Santiago and Lo Prado toll, incorporating a third reversible roadway of approximately 82 km, that will allow to redistribute the flow of vehicles depending on the time of the day in which there is more traffic to each direction. Likewise, the construction of two new tunnels (Lo Prado III, 3 km long; and Zapata III, 1.3 km long) will mean that in both locations the central tunnel will be reversible.

These works also include creating and replacing several infrastructures, such as junctions, footbridges, bridges, bus stops and a bikeway of more than 100 km, that will contribute both to road and pedestrian safety. In order to enhance the growth of urban spaces with green areas we will develop four green footbridges in the commune of Pudahuel, that will also have pedestrian paths, bike lanes and games.

In addition, free flow tolls will be installed along the entire roadway, which will keep the traffic flow stable and avoid waiting time by eliminating stops. At the same time, avoiding the need to stop and start will reduce carbon dioxide emissions emitted by vehicles.

All these improvements require an investment of 1,500 million euros, which makes it one of the largest tenders in the history of Chile, as it will allow to solve important infrastructure and connectivity challenges.

In the country we also have other P3 projects nearby, such as Ruta 78, that connects Santiago with San Antonio; and Ruta 66 or Camino de la Fruta, which is relevant for the agricultural development of Chile.