Invias publishes Girardot hwy pre-bidding documents

Colombia's national highway institute Invias has published unofficial pre-bidding documents for its upcoming competition on a 13-year concession to build and operate a 121km highway between Girardot and Bosa, an institute source told BNamericas. Invias published the documents in anticipation of an end-May to early-June start for project bidding, the source said. The government will award a concession in November or December. The unofficial pre-bidding documents should giver potential participants an idea of contract and bidding expectations. The project, valued at 550bn pesos in December 2000 rates (US$195mn currently), involves designing, constructing, rehabilitating and operating the stretch between Cundinamarca department capital Girardot and Bosa in capital Bogota. Works involve a 4km tunnel and expanding existing roadways. The segment is part of the Bogota-Buenaventura corridor, considered one of the most important routes Colombia. Colombia's government has placed a high priority on Girardot-Bosa, as it runs through one of the most congested and commercially active zones in the country. The concessionaire will recoup construction and maintenance costs through tolls, state news agency CNE previously reported. Colombia's government is expected to extend some 50bn pesos to help cover the project's cost.