https://www.prensa.com/economia/nuevas-rampas-carriles-y-accesos-asi-sera-la-ampliacion-del-corredor-sur-que-licitara-ena/

Companies interested in participating in the prequalification process for the expansion of the Southern Corridor will have until March 25, between 9:00 am and 11:00 am, to submit their proposals at the offices of the National Highway Company (ENA), located on Vía Israel, ENA building, San Francisco district

The call corresponds to Prequalification Process No. 001-26, called “Studies, Design and Construction of the Expansion of the Southern Corridor”, announced by ENA Sur, SA. The terms and conditions are available for free download on the entity’s website.

The process is governed by the Regulations for Purchases of Concessionary Companies, Law 5 of April 15, 1988, which regulates the execution of public works under the administrative concession regime, and current legal provisions.

The objective is to identify and prequalify companies or consortia that meet the legal, technical and financial requirements, so that they can later be invited to participate in the project’s bidding processes.

According to the information contained in the images attached to the invitation, the plan includes a series of interventions along the Southern Corridor, with an emphasis on improving traffic flow at the points that currently register the greatest congestion.

In the Punta Pacífica area, plans are underway to construct a new exit toward the area near the shopping center, as well as a direct connection to the Southern Corridor. This area experiences traffic congestion for much of the day, especially during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

In addition to this new entrance and exit, the expansion of lanes towards the Atlapa toll booth in both directions is planned, in order to facilitate the entry and exit of vehicles.

The project also includes widening the lane that allows access from the Southern Corridor to Vía Israel via the existing viaduct, as well as an additional lane from Vía Israel, near the ENA offices, heading towards Vía Cincuentenario.

In the marine section, heading towards Tocumen, the possibility of a new lane is incorporated that would connect with the existing exit ramp and with a new exit in the Costa del Este sector, which would allow direct access to the area known as Paseo del Mar.

Currently, that area has only one exit, causing severe congestion that impacts traffic flow on the Southern Corridor during the morning rush hour. Costa del Este is one of the city’s main residential and business hubs.

The expansion of lanes in both directions from Chanis to Costa del Este is also planned, to enhance the new entrances and exits being built in the area.

The exit ramp from Costa del Este to the Chanis area, known as the Hipódromo ramp, is now open. However, the new exit to Costa del Este is still under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of the first half of the year.

The completion of the exit from Paseo del Mar would remain pending, which will have an elevated vehicular crossing over the Southern Corridor and will join the marine section towards Atlapa.

At the Hipódromo junction, a new “ear” type exit is also planned from the corridor, which will allow access to Costa del Este without using the Chanis roundabout, where recurring congestion occurs.

In that same area, the expansion of the existing ear-shaped ramp towards Chanis and the expansion of the vehicular bridge are planned.

Near the Juan Díaz River, the construction of new entrances and exits is planned, with an overpass over the corridor, which would allow direct connection towards Chanis and Tocumen.

The project also includes lane expansions between Chanis and the bridge over the Juan Díaz River, and from that point to the Ciudad Radial tollbooth, in both directions.

Improvements will be made to the Ciudad Radial tollbooth area to facilitate vehicle entry and exit. Beyond the tollbooth, heading towards Tocumen, a ramp will be constructed to allow access to the bridge connecting Ciudad Radial, Don Bosco, Versalles, and Metro Park.

Also included is an exit ramp from the Southern Corridor towards Radial City for drivers coming from Tocumen.

From the Ciudad Radial tollbooth to the overpass connecting to Don Bosco, the lanes will be widened in both directions. However, the project does not include an exit from Don Bosco onto the Southern Corridor towards Tocumen, despite urban growth in that area.

This phase also does not include the expansion of the corridor towards the Pacora sector.

On this last point, the manager of the Tocumen International Airport, José Ruiz, recently indicated that a possible extension that would border the airport and connect with Pacora is being analyzed together with the Ministry of Public Works and ENA.

According to Ruiz, the preliminary design even evaluates the possibility of including an underground section through a tunnel, similar to the one built under the runway of the old Rio Hato airport, to facilitate logistical access to land adjacent to the airport that currently does not have a direct connection to the corridor.

In 2020, ENA issued $400 million in debt to cancel commitments acquired in 2011 and 2014, which allowed the purchase of the Southern Corridor concession and the expansion of the Northern Corridor to Tocumen.

As a result of that transaction and the surplus from toll payments, the company has its own funds to carry out improvements on the Southern Corridor. It was indicated at the time that the amount allocated for expansions could exceed $200 million, subject to updates to the master plan.

The prequalification process, which ends on March 25, will mark the first formal step in defining the final scope of this expansion, which seeks to alleviate congestion on one of the capital’s main road axes.

In addition to defining the project to extend the Southern Corridor towards Pacora, ENA still needs to renew the bond issue linked to the Northern Corridor, a debt that matures in 2028. The Government has already confirmed that it will carry out a new issue to finance improvements to that highway, as well as the construction of the interchanges that will connect the Northern Corridor with the fourth bridge, currently under construction.

The upcoming bond issuance is generating market anticipation due to the total amount and duration of the new instrument, given its crucial role in securing the execution of additional works and the continuity of the investment plan. In this context, debt financing is once again proving to be a central component for sustaining the expansion and modernization of the toll road network.

Although it was initially suggested that the toll corridors could be made free of charge once the debts incurred to purchase the concessions were paid off, the government has indicated that this alternative is not viable in the short term. According to the official position, there are still outstanding financial obligations to cover, and furthermore, the current maintenance of the roads is funded by toll revenues.

During 2025, the toll corridors recorded a cumulative traffic volume of 141.1 million vehicles, reflecting the continued use of the automobile as a complementary mode of transportation in urban mobility. In financial terms, the toll roads generated $190.5 million in toll revenue during the year, funds that are allocated to maintenance, operation, and the payment of financial obligations.