Chilean Government develops secondary road investment scheme

A new programme of works in Chile will see major maintenance being carried out on the country’s extensive network of secondary roads. The plans have been set out by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) and the works will be offered under a new concession framework that is planned to be announced in the first quarter of 2014. The works will require up to 30% of the MOP's annual budget, some US$594 million. Meanwhile MOP has also signed a deal with the highway operator Autopista de Aconcagua. This will see upgrades to the Santiago-Lampa highway and involves improvements to a 15km stretch that links Buenaventura and the Lampa toll road. The work includes widening the route to four lanes in each direction and is expected to commence in the first half of 2014 and is due for completion in the last quarter of 2016.