Bogotá-Medellín highway may be expanded

Colombia is seeking to widen a key stretch of highway between capital Bogotá and Medellín.

A priority of Colombia's recently unveiled intermodal transport master plan (PMTI), the project seeks to add 130km of highway between Puerto Triunfo and El Santuario, both in Antioquia department. It would convert the stretch into a four-lane divided highway.

The project is expected to require investments of nearly 2tn pesos (US$645mn), with the aim to launch works as soon as possible.

ANI seeks to have concessionaire Devimed – owned by Colombian construction firm Conconcreto – finance the works through toll collections, with the understanding that the investment would be recouped after the concession period ends and the asset is transferred to the government.

Such an arrangement is being implemented by Aburra Norte highway concessionaire Hatovial, Luis Andrade, director of national infrastructure agency ANI, was quoted by El Colombiano as saying.

In the case of Devimed, however, there is a legal issue standing in the way pertaining to the end of the concession period. The company has previously undertaken works in exchange for extending the concession period, but is in disagreement with authorities as to whether the works were greenlighted before being carried out.

A first ruling from an Antioquia administrative court ruled in favor of the company, although the public ministry has appealed.