Finance & Funding

The Mexican authorities have set out further details on the country’s ongoing infrastructure development plans. Mexico's Transport and Communications Secretariat (SCT) will commence the call for proposals process for highway projects worth a total of US$2.11 billion. The projects include the Paso Express de Cuernavaca, Tuxpan-Tampico highway, Ciudad Obrego by-pass and Barretal by-pass. They also include widening the Tlalpan and Puebla routes. Around $4.366 billion will be invested in roads in Mexico during

A major plan for infrastructure is being put forward for Chile. Chile's Construction chamber (CChC) has presented a plan for some US$40 billion in infrastructure improvements to the new Chilean Government. The CChC has highlighted the concession model as being the most effective tool for encouraging private investment in infrastructure. The CChC suggests that Chile has a critical need for infrastructure development, but a serious shortfall of public funds according to a report by Business News Americas. Roa

In Portugal work is restarting on the stalled Marao tunnel project. The Portuguese Government has assured financing from the EU to complete the necessary work for the 5.7km tunnel. The contractor working on the project originally hit financial problems, resulting in the work grinding to a halt and the Portuguese Government cancelling the contract with the original concession holder. The cost of the project has estimated at €204 million and the EU may finance up to €200 million of this. The package of works

The US Government has proposed an investment of some US$320 billion for repairs on roads and transit systems. The US president, Barack Obama, has suggested financing this four-year plan by revising how businesses are taxed and closing tax loopholes. Another proposal has been to revamp the tax code that allocated spending of $126.5 billion for infrastructure and highways. One other option includes increasing taxes on fuels used in trucks and cars to pay for the upgrades. In addition, Obama unveiled the comme

Plans are in hand for a new highway connection between Myanmar and China. The governments of the two countries have been discussing the possibility of the Myanmar-China Corridor. This route would run from Ruili in China to Kyaukphyu in Myanmar. The work is likely to be carried out under the PPP model, with a build, operate, transfer package for the winning tender. The first stage of the project will commence during 2014.

The National Infrastructure Agency of Colombia aims to award tenders for 30 of its key 4G highway projects during 2014. In all the 4G programme includes 40 highway projects. Of these projects, the tenders for 10 are close to being opened. The first of the projects were going to be put to tender early in February 2014 but the banks involved asked for more time. The Colombian society of engineers (SCI) will have to decide the best route for a 21km section of the Ruta del Sol highway. The original design took

The World Bank is offering funding worth some US$320 million for construction of the 258km Nekempte-Bure road in Ethiopia. In total the project is expected to cost $385 million to build, with the Ethiopian Government providing the remaining $65 million. The Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA) has said that the contractor that wins the tender for the project will also have to maintain the road for five years after construction is completed.

Two of China’s provinces, Shanxi and Sichuan, have announced plans to invest in infrastructure expansion. Shanxi Province has plans to invest US$3.44 billion in road construction projects during 2014. Seven new highway projects with a total length exceeding 375km will commence in the year. At the same time, 13 projects totalling 842.6km will be completed and open for traffic. Meanwhile in Sichuan Province, some US$11.56 billion will be spent on road projects during 2014. Rural roads measuring 15,000km will

Spanish firm OHL is investing heavily in developing its business operations in Mexico. The firm’s Mexican subsidiary, OHL México, is looking to invest as much as US$1.5 billion in new concessions over the next two years, according to a report from Business News Americas. The firm is keen to win new toll road concessions in Mexico, such as the coming Atizapán-Atlacomulco highway tender. OHL México currently has a stake in the Supervía Poetas tollroad in Mexico City as well as a series of tollroad concessions