New Public Tender: The Mercosur Highway and the Return of Major Construction Companies

New Public Tender: The Mercosur Highway and the Return of Major Construction Companies

The national government recently announced the results of the tender for the concession of the National Routes 12 and 14 corridors—known as the Mercosur Highway—a strategic axis for the country’s transportation and logistics network.

The process marks a new phase within the Federal Concessions Network (RFC) program, aimed at reactivating investment in road infrastructure through private participation and self-financing via toll collection.

Tender Results and Structure

Several companies with a long track record in public works submitted bids.
For the Eastern Section (National Routes 12 and 14), the most competitive offer came from Autovía Construcciones y Servicios S.A., proposing a toll rate of ARS 3,563.45 per 100 km, below both the government’s reference rate (ARS 3,700) and the maximum cap (ARS 4,300).

Other bidders included Rovella Carranza, Paolini, and Benito Roggio e Hijos, all historically active in road construction projects.

For the Connection Section, corresponding to the Rosario–Victoria Bridge, the provisional award went to Obring S.A., which submitted a rate of ARS 3,385.80, compared to the official ceiling of ARS 4,050.

The process includes a review and appeals period prior to the final award.

Contract Conditions and Financing Model

Toll collection will begin once the roads reach an adequate level of serviceability, which involves improvements, maintenance, and rehabilitation works, but no major infrastructure expansions.

This model seeks to balance the initial investment with a faster operational recovery, prioritizing safety and road quality over capacity expansion.

A key feature of the process is the participation of the Investment and Foreign Trade Bank (BICE) as a financing entity. Through a trust-based guarantee and funding scheme, BICE will offer credit lines to the awarded companies—representing a shift from the program’s original design, which envisioned 100% private funding.

This financial support strengthens the viability of the model and could accelerate project execution in the short term.

Context and Key Players

Among the leading companies are Autovía Construcciones y Servicios S.A., linked to the José Cartellone Group, and Obring S.A., based in Rosario, with extensive experience in road and urban infrastructure projects. Both have a strong record in large-scale works and are part of Argentina’s traditional construction ecosystem.

Their continued participation in public contracts reflects the resilience of a consolidated business sector capable of adapting to various management and financing models as infrastructure policies evolve.

Outlook and Implications

From an economic perspective, this new stage of concessions could mean:

• A revival of private investment in road infrastructure, with more predictable rules and long-term contracts.
• Greater operational efficiency, linking concessionaire revenues to service quality and traffic flow.
• Reduced direct public spending, albeit with indirect state involvement through BICE financing.

For investors and industry operators, the Mercosur Highway tender represents a concrete opportunity to participate in high-relevance logistical and commercial corridors under a concession model focused on financial sustainability and competitive participation.