$606.5 Million is the Tender to Complete the Centenario Highway Project in Panama
The project will benefit more than 485,000 people and will generate more than 12,000 direct and indirect jobs. The project will be tendered through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
The Minister of the Presidency (MIPRE), Juan Carlos Orillac, presided Tuesday over a new meeting of the Governing Body of the Public-Private Partnerships Regime (PPP) where the start of the Bidding process for the project “Rehabilitation, Improvement and Maintenance by Performance Standards of the Centenario Highway” was approved.
Project Developed Using an App
The project will benefit more than 485,000 people and will generate more than 12,000 direct and indirect jobs. The approval of this project, whose initial investment is estimated at B/. 606.5 million, was given after the approval of the Final Technical Report, the Specifications, the APP Contract and its annexes, thus culminating the feasibility phase of this strategic initiative promoted by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP).
12,000 Jobs will be Created
The initiative will have a direct impact on the quality of life of the population, with an estimated 485,000 people benefiting, primarily in the western part of the country. Furthermore, it is estimated that over 12,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created during its implementation. In addition to its economic and social impact, the project will significantly improve regional connectivity, facilitating access for residents to their workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, and shops. It will also help reduce travel times and vehicle operating costs, while strengthening road safety through the implementation of a modern Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) network for traffic management and incident response.
The PPP Contract will have a validity of 30 years, a period during which not only the execution of the works will be guaranteed, but also the permanent maintenance of the infrastructure under contractually required performance standards, ensuring optimal levels of service throughout the life of the project. Regarding the projects being carried out by the National Government, including the work in question, the head of the MOP, José Luis Andrade, highlighted the investment being made not only to improve traffic flow on the country’s roads, but also to improve the quality of life for Panamanians. The road project – which has been divided into six sections for its execution – includes the rehabilitation, improvement and maintenance of 42.5 kilometers of the Centenario road and the Arraiján-La Chorrera highway, two of the most important road corridors in the country for connectivity between the province of Panama and Panama West.
“The most important thing about this is that these projects (via PPPs), when they are done, are done with maintenance, and not just maintenance for two or three years, but maintenance for 15, 20, or 30 years. In the end, we are taking a significant burden off future governments and, obviously, providing peace of mind and ensuring that these projects will be well maintained for the good use the country can make of them,” Minister Orillac emphasized.
