The battle between Spain’s major construction firms for dynamic toll motorway concessions (managed lanes) in the United States is entering a decisive week. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will open the final bids next Wednesday, 14 October, for the upgrading and operation of I-285 East in Atlanta. Ferrovial, ACS, Acciona and Sacyr are vying for a multi-million contract in a tender that has gained significance following the recent award of the I-24 Southeast Tennessee project to the group chaired by Rafael del Pino.
The GDOT has narrowed the field to three consortia that have reached the decisive stage of the tender, leaving out the alliance led by the French firm Vinci. The project involves the introduction of dynamic toll lanes on a 20-kilometre stretch of the Atlanta ring road, which will be managed for 50 years. The initial investment is estimated at over 3,000 million euros, although, judging by the bids submitted in Tennessee, the figure is expected to be higher. Furthermore, the total value could rise to 10,000 million with extensions in later phases. The concession value is also expected to be very significant, although lower than that which secured Ferrovial’s victory on the I-24.
SOURCE: elEconomista.es