The Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, Marta Lucía Ramírez, has visited the Bucaramanga-Barrancabermeja-Yondó project that is part of the colombian Government’s 4G highway program to learn about the progress of the project, exceeding 40% of its total and its constructive challenges.
The Vice President has toured through the tunnels that cross the mountains accompanied by the CEO of the concession, Conrad Vellvé; the director of Europe and New Markets of Cintra, José Ángel Tamariz-Martel; and Gabriel González Antón, director of Colombia at Ferrovial Agroman, among others
The construction will improve the connections between Bucaramanga and Barrancabermeja with the most important production centers of the country with a new route in the Lisbon-Puente la Paz stretch thus avoiding the passage through geotechnically unstable areas that have affected users.
The CEO of Ruta del Cacao explained that one of objectives of the visit was to try to remove the existing bureaucratic obstacles to the proper execution of the work and stressed the importance of decision-making by the authorities:
“To ensure that in the future there will be no instability on the ground and it will be a work for the integral development of Santander that reactivates other productive sectors and energizes the economy of the zone”, according to Conrad Vellvé.
A strategic infrastructure
To date, Ruta del Cacao is generating more than 2,300 jobs in the municipalities of its area of influence. According to the Colombian National Infrastructure Agency, the project is expected to generate more than 3,300 jobs at its highest construction peak, which will have a positive impact on the area’s municipalities.
The director of Europe and New Markets of Cintra, José Ángel Tamariz-Martel, said that this project will mean a significant improvement:
“As users will reduce their travel times by approximately 15%”
For Tamariz, the work will have a positive impact on the economy of the area, which will be of benefit to the community.
About financial data, the director of Colombia of Ferrovial Agroman, Gabriel González Antón, confirmed that
“The current construction progress of the project represents an annual production of approximately 500.000 MMCOP/year (135 MM euros/year), which means a very important increase for Ferrovial Agroman in the country”
Assessment that the director Iberia, Latam and Other Markets, Ignacio Clopés, ratifies. For the director, Ruta del Cacao is a successful example of Colombia’s infrastructure investment program and Ferrovial’s strategic commitment in Latin America.
Ruta del Cacao consortium
The consortium led by Cintra was awarded this 2015 project. The contract provides for the operation of 236 kilometres of road, 82 of which correspond to the construction of a new road to connect the towns of Bucaramanga, Barrancabermeja and Yondó in eastern Colombia.
Cintra and its partners, Ruta del Cacao JL, RM Holdings S.A.S (belonging to Fondo de Infraestructura Colombia Ashmore I) and MC Victorias Tempranas S.A.S (belonging to Grupo Mercantil Colpatria) are responsible for the development and operation of this project. Ferrovial Agroman and the construction company Colpatria oversee the design and construction.
The concession has a duration of 25 years from the signing of the contract, with the possibility of extending for an additional four years. The financial closure of the project took place in November 2018 and Ferrovial currently holds a 30% stake in the concessionaire company.
