The Ministry of Public Works is putting out to tender works on adapting to three lanes and reversing of lanes in the North and South corridors, in Panama City.
Panama Government Purchase 2017-0-09-0-08-AV-004921:
"The project involves adaptation, adjustments, signaling for reclassification to three-lanes and reversing of lanes on the North and South corridors, which are located in the city of Panama, however, the contracting entity, may determine taskswhile carrying out work in the field which have not been defined in the terms of reference and plans, to ensure connectivity and integrity of road networks and / or accessibility to basic services, such as health centers, schools, roads, production, etc., as long as they relate to a route which is continuous, (or) neighboring, (or) perpendicular to any point on the route of the project, which must be formalized by legal instruments defined in the Request for Proposals."
While the government discusses possible options for funding expansion of the road, the union of engineers and architects aims to develop the project through means of a tender.
The expansion project of the Southern Corridor route is estimated at $509 million and it has still not been defined how the funds needed to carry out the work will be raised.
A new environmental impact study is being carried out and available for citizens interested in finding out about the details of the extension of the Corridor.
Due to the complexity of the expansion project of the South Corridor, the National Environmental Authority has requested a new environmental impact study, rated as category III.
Although in November 2013 the National Highway Company presented an environmental impact study for the south corridor's expansion to six lanes, the National Environmental Authority (ANAM) has requested a new category III study. The new study received in early January shows no major changes compared to the previous one, the components of the project and the total cost of $509 million remain the same.
The government has signed a contract for the acquisition of 100% of the shares of the road called ‘Corredor Sur’ from the company ICA.
The transaction was made between the State National Highway Company (ENA) and Ingenieros Civiles y Asociados (ICA), and consists of $25 million in equity and issuing $395 million in bond debt.
The State must provide an additional $25 million to establish the reserve accounts for the bonds, as detailed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).