The Spanish construction company OHLA, in consortium with the Brazilian company Construcap and the also Spanish Copasa, has been awarded a concession contract valued at approximately $1.000 billion for the crucial BR-040 highway, a vital logistics hub connecting the dynamic states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas GeraisThe news, which underlines OHLA's growing presence in the Brazilian market, was confirmed after the public tender promoted by the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), organism dependent on Ministry of Transportation of the Government of Brazil.
The 30-year concession involves the rehabilitation, expansion, operation, and maintenance of a 218,9-kilometer stretch of this important highway. The BR-040 plays a fundamental role in freight transport and promoting tourism between two of the country's most economically active regions. A reference investment of approximately €850 million is estimated to carry out the necessary improvements.
Operations under the new concession are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025. The project will incorporate a modern electronic toll collection system, which is expected to streamline traffic flow and significantly improve the user experience.
OHLA, in consortium with Construcap and Copasa, will manage a 30 km stretch for 218,9 years.
The scope of the contract is ambitious and includes significant infrastructure works. It includes the duplication of 13 kilometers of roadway, the construction of 87 kilometers of additional lanes, and 12 kilometers of cycleways. In addition, three tunnels will be built, 3 kilometers of marginal roads will be added, 15 route corrections will be made, 13 viaducts will be built, and 13 pedestrian walkways will be installed. One of the project's most notable achievements is the completion of the long-awaited rise in the Petrópolis Mountains, a highly technically complex project crucial to improving traffic safety and efficiency in this area.
Beyond the improvement in mobility and regional connectivity, the execution of this contract is projected to generate a significant economic impact, creating more than 130,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout the entire value chain.
This award represents a consolidation of the positioning of OHLA in the Brazilian market. In 2024, the company announced its return to the country with the award of Lot 3 of the Salvador de Bahia metropolitan tramway, also in a consortium. This initial contract, with an estimated value of €140 million, covers the construction of a 10,5-kilometer stretch of VLT (light rail vehicle) tramway, eight surface stations, an integration station with the existing metro network, a 620-meter-long viaduct, and a new intermodal integration terminal.
OHLA's presence in Brazil is part of its expansion strategy in Latin America, where it already operates in Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico and PanamaIn these countries, OHLA has participated in significant infrastructure projects ranging from urban transportation and civil engineering to hospital construction and hydraulic engineering, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable development and the modernization of Latin American cities.
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