THIS IS HOW THE PATH IS BUILT - Odebrecht Informa

Aroute that connects Bogota with Colombia’s
Atlantic ports (on the Caribbean
Coast). A light rail system in Lima,
Peru, that reduces traveling time from
two and a half hours by car to 30 minutes
by metro. These projects may be very different in
terms of format, but they are totally synergistic when it
comes to one of the main concerns of modern life: mobility.
In his book On the Move: Mobility in the Modern
Western World, published by Routledge in 2006, an internationally
recognized expert on that subject, geographer
Tim Cresswell, alerted us to the fact that the phenomenon
of mobility involves a varied range of factors
and processes that are simultaneously present in the
basic structure of the production system and people’s
daily lives, up to and including the transportation system
and the public management of those spaces.
The Ruta del Sol (“Route of the Sun”) is the most important
highway in Colombia. It covers 1,071 km and runs
through an area that concentrates 70% of the country’s
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while connecting its two
most important cities, Bogota and Medellin, with the Caribbean
Coast. The target of a USD 2.5 billion investment,
the concession for this route is divided into three sectors.
Sector Two, the longest (528 km) and most important of
the three, is the responsibility of the Rota do Sol S.A.S.
concessionaire, led by Odebrecht (62.1%), whose partners
are two Colombian companies, Corficolombiana
(33%) and Solarte (4.99%). The venture represents an
investment of approximately USD 1.5 billion. In addition
to investing in the project, which includes the operation
and maintenance of the highway for 25 years, Odebrecht
is also present as the contractor refurbishing the route.
Begun in May 2011, the road works will be completed in
five years under the responsibility of Ruta del Sol (Consol),
a joint-venture contractor formed by Odebrecht and
two Colombian companies, Corficolombiana and CSS
Constructores S.A.
According to Eder Ferracuti, President of the Rota
do Sol S.A.S. concessionaire, the improvements to the
highway will enable the route to realize its full potential.
“It is mainly used for cargo transportation. The average
amount of traffic in Sector Two is 20,000 vehicles
per day, of which 70% are heavy vehicles. It is essential
to improve this infrastructure to increase Colombia’s
competitiveness,” he observes. “The improvements being
made in road infrastructure have a direct impact on
reducing the Vehicle Operating Cost, which is directly
reflected in lower costs for foreign trade,” he adds.
The Colombian Government estimates that the improvements
being made on the Ruta del Sol will contribute
to a 5% reduction in the Vehicle Operating Cost, which
represents 4% savings on the cost of cargo transport on
this corridor. This would represent additional gains for
the country of up to USD 1.5 billion per year.
“Odebrecht is also positioning itself in this country
as a company that invests in infrastructure. Colombia is
an extremely interesting country, where there are many
Cities to coast
possibilities and there’s plenty to do,” says the CEO of
Odebrecht Colombia, Luiz Antonio Bueno Junior. “Travel
time between Bogota and the Caribbean Coast will
be reduced from 16 hours to 10,” he observes.
The Colombian Transport Minister, Germán Cardona
Gutiérrez, points out that the Ruta del Sol is a
strategic project for his government. “We are entering
a new era for concessions in Colombia, and this is
the first example of the new phase of concessions. We
need to set the priorities for the organization, execution
and efficiency of these road infrastructure projects
so the Colombian people will have a clear picture
of the impact they will have on Colombia’s economy
and development,” emphasizes Germán Cardona.
On track for mobility
With a population of over 8 million people, Lima still
needs to develop its mass transit infrastructure. The
informality of the bus and taxi systems in the Peruvian
capital compromises the quality of transit and induces
informa
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