buenos aires, argentina paseo del bajo road corridor project · city of buenos aires (caba)...
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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
•TheCityofBuenosAires’largestconstructionworkinover35years.
•Thefirst“cut-and-cover”tunneldesigninArgentina.
•ThefirstArgentinianhighwayoperatedbya“barrier-free”or“freeflow”tollsystem.
•Potentialengineeringandconstructionchallengesalleviatedbythedivisionoftheconstructionworksintothreeseparate(butsimultaneous)constructioncontracts.
•Specificlaw(Law5796,see‘LegislativeEnvironment’section)passedtoauthorisethesaleofpre-determinedplotsofpublicland,withtheproceedstogotowardsfinancingtheproject.
Paseo del Bajo Road Corridor Project
SHOWCASE PROJECTS
Image courtesy of AUSA
1 Managed lanes are defined as “highway facilities or a set of lanes where operational strategies are proactively implemented and managed in response to changing conditions”. Lane management strategies include pricing, vehicle eligibility and access control. (See U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, “Managed Lanes: A Primer”, available at https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/managelanes_primer/)
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
May 2018
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The USD 700 million Paseo del Bajo project is a transformative road corridor project being developed by the City of Buenos Aires (CABA) in Argentina to ease traffic and improve connectivity between the North and South areas of the city.
ItwillbeCABA’slargestconstructionworkinover35yearsandispartoftheCABAgovernment’sPublicWorksPlanfor2016-2019,inlinewithArgentina’ssubstantialnationalinfrastructureinvestmentprogram.Thecorridorwillconsistofaninnovative“trench”(alsoknownasa“cut-and-cover”)tunneldesign,thefirstofitskindinArgentina,aswellasmanagedlanes1andnewpublicgreenspaces.
Thehighwaycorridorwillbe7.1kmlongandwillconnecttheIlliaHighwaywithtwoofthecity’sbusiestroadways,the25deMayoandBuenosAires-LaPlataHighways.Morethan25,000privatecarsandheavyvehiclescrossthecitycentreeverydaywithoutthisbeingtheirfinaldestination,generatingcongestion,longertraveltimesandhigherlevelsofenvironmentalandnoisepollution.Thecorridorwillallowtraffictoberedistributedawayfromcrowdedcityareas,particularlyhelpingtoalleviateheavytrafficontheMadero-HuergoandMoreaudeJustoAvenues,aswellasprovidemoredirectaccesstothePortofBuenosAires(Port)andtheRetiroBusTerminal.
TheregulatorforthepublicprojectistheMinistryofUrbanDevelopmentandTransportwithintheCABAgovernment,whilststate-ownedconcessionaireAutopistasUrbanasS.A.(AUSA)istheprojectmanager,andresponsibleforoperationsandmaintenance.Theprojectwillbepartoftheoverallurbanhighwaysystem,sotheconcessionperiodwillbethesameasAUSA’sgeneralconcessionforthesystem,whichendsin2029.
SHOWCASE PROJECT: Paseo del Bajo Road Corridor Project
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Theconstructionoftheprojecthasbeendividedintothreeseparatecontracts,eachcontractedtodifferentconsortiumsbuttobecompletedsimultaneously,withtotalconstructionexpectedtotakeupto28months.ConstructionbeganinJanuary2017andisexpectedtobecompletedinApril2019.
PartoftheprojectwillbefinancedthroughthesaleofunusedareasinBuenosAires,particularlypublicplotsoflandclosetotheRetiroTerminalandPuertoMadero.UnderLaw5796,promulgatedonMarch292017specificallyforthisproject,theCABAgovernmentwillsellpre-determinedplotsoflandtore-investinthePaseodelBajoprojectasagrant,toreducedependenceonthepublicbudget.TheremainderoftheprojectwillbefinancedwithaloanfromtheDevelopmentBankofLatinAmerica(CAF),endorsedbytheFederalArgentiniangovernment.ItwillbefundedbytheCABAgovernment’sHighwayTollCollectionsystem,withthePaseodelBajoprojectbeingthefirstArgentinianhighwayoperatedbya“barrier-free”or“freeflow”tollsystem.
EXPECTED PROJECT BENEFITS
ThePaseodelBajoprojecthasbeendeclaredasoneofthemostimportantroadworksprojectsconductedinthecityofBuenosAiresfordecades,anditisexpectedtocreatenumerouseconomic,socialandenvironmentalbenefitsfortheresidentsofBuenosAires.AUSAhasconductedextensiveengagementwiththevariousstakeholderstotheproject,includingtheMinistryofUrbanDevelopmentandTransport,theStatePropertyAdministrationAgency(AABE),thePortsAdministrationAgency(AGP)andtheSecretaryofTransportation,aswellasresidents,workersandbusinessownersinthelocalcommunitiesthroughwhichtheprojectwillpass.AUSAestablishedaspecificstakeholderengagementteamforthispurpose,RelacionesconlaComunidad,whichhasconductedhundredsofcommunityconsultations.
The expected benefits of the project are highlighted below:
•ImprovedNorth-Southconnectivity,creatingaunifiedBuenosAires.Itisexpectedthattheprojectwilldirectlybenefitapproximately350,000people(passengersandpedestrians)everyday.
•Reducedtrafficcongestionacrossthecity,resultinginsignificanttraveltimesavingsformorethan25,000vehiclesaday,includingalmost10,000trucks.Truckswilltakeanexpected10minutestocompleteacross-cityjourney,whichcurrentlytakes45to60minutes.
•Reducednoiseandairpollution,duetothefactthatheavyvehicleswillbebelowground(see‘ProjectDesign’section).Lighttransitvehicleswillalsobenefitfromshortervehiclestoppingtimesandthemaintenanceofaconstantspeed,furthercontributingtoreducedpollution.
•Enhancedvehicularandpedestriansafety,throughthereconfigurationoftrafficandseparationofvehicletypes,aswellassaferpedestriancrossings.
•60,000m²ofnewpublicspaces,35,000m²ofwhichwillbegreenareasfromwhichthepubliccanbenefit,includingcyclepathstoencouragerecreationandsustainablemobility.Thiswillcontributesignificantlytothecity’scommitmentofreaching250kmofbikelanesand400EcoBici2stationsby2019.
•Integrationwiththetransportsystemofthemetropolitanregion,increasingregionalcompetitiveness.
•ReductionoflogisticscostsassociatedwithforeigntradeduetomoreefficientaccesstothePortofBuenosAires.
2 EcoBici is a free-to-use bicycle-sharing system in Buenos Aires.
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CONTRACTUAL STRUCTURE
AsnotedintheProjectOverview,theconstructionofthePaseodelBajoprojecthasbeendividedintothreepackagesor“Blocks”,eachcontractedtoadifferentconstructionconsortium.
Regulator: MinistryofUrbanDevelopmentandTransport
Project Manager:AUSA
Operations and Maintenance:AUSA
Maintenance of Public Spaces: PuertoMaderoCorporation
BLOCK A BLOCK B BLOCK C
Construction:JCRS.A.andCoarcoS.A.(JV)
Construction Supervision:ConsulbairesIng.ConsultS.A.andConsultOGrimauxyAsoc.S.A.Técnica
Construction: GreenS.A.andConstrucciónElectromecánicasdelOesteS.A.(CEOSA)(JV)
Construction Supervision:IngenieríayEconomíadelTransporteS.A.
Construction: IECSAandFontanaNicastro(JV)
Construction Supervision:EuroestudiosSL
PROJECT TIMELINE
Key dates in the project timeline are shown below:
April 2016CABAgovernmentannouncedtheprojectandtheDataRoomwasopenedforpotentialbidderstoviewtechnicaldocuments.
May 2016Tenderopenedandpublishedinnewspapers.
July 2016 CAFapprovesUSD400millionloanfortheproject.
September 2016 DataRoomdeactivatedandbiddingprocesslaunched.
December 2016 Biddingprocessendsandthethreeseparateconstructioncontractsareawarded.
January 2017 CAFloancontractissignedbytheGovernmentoftheRepublicofArgentina.
January 2017 Constructionfortheprojectbegins.
March 2017 Law5796ispromulgated,definingwhichpublicareaswillbesoldtofinancetheproject.
October 2017 ThefirstplotsoflanddeterminedbyCABAtobesoldareauctioned,withtheproceedstogotowardstheproject.
December 2017 Twofurtherplotsoflandaresoldtofinancetheproject.
April 2018 Onemoreplotoflandisauctioned.
April 2019 Expectedcompletionofconstruction.
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LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENT
OnMarch292017,Law5796oftheAutonomousCityofBuenosAires(CABA)waspassed3.ThislegislationauthorisedtheStatePropertyAdministrationAgency(AABE),inagreementwiththeMinistryofTransportationofArgentinaandtheCABAgovernment,todefineexactlywhichpublicareasorplotsoflandwouldbesoldtofinancethePaseodelBajoproject.ThelawalsostipulatesthattheCABAgovernmentandtheArgentinianNationalGovernmentmustguaranteetheurbanintegrationoftheprojectwiththecity.
Underthislaw,CABAapprovestheregistrationofpropertiesasprivatedomainsoftheArgentinianNationalGovernment,aswellastheirrezoning.AABEgrantsthepropertytitlesandtheircorrespondingregistrationforauctiononbehalfoftheArgentinianNationalGovernment.
3 Annex VIII of Law 5796 is specifically relevant to the Paseo del Bajo project.
Followingthis,AABEisrequiredtoconductapublicauctionofthepropertiesoveramaximumperiodof24monthsfromthedateofrezoning.ThepropertieswererevaluedfollowingtheirrezoningbytheTribunaldeTasacionesdelaNaciónatalmostUSD150million,whichwillinformthebiddingatthepublicauctions.
ThelawspecifiesthattheproceedsoftheauctionscanonlybeusedtofinancethePaseodelBajoproject.Item2.5ofLaw5796requiresthatoncetheauctionshavebeenconductedandallproceedshavebeenreceived,theMinistryofUrbanDevelopmentandTransportwillreinvest,ataminimum,theseproceedsintheconstructionoftheproject.
Image courtesy of AUSA
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Four lanes for light vehicles travelling NorthA. MOREAU DE JUSTO HUERGO / MADERO
Pedestrian Bridge
Tunnel for buses and trucks only
Four lanes for light vehicles travelling South
Theprojectwillbefundedbyuser-chargeswiththeCABAgovernment’sHighwayTollCollectionsystem,throughauniquemodelunderwhichAUSAallocates55%ofitstotaltollrevenuetodeveloptheroadsandothermobilityworksunderitsconcession.
PROJECT DESIGN
Thenewhighwaywillconsistof12lanes,fourofwhichareundergroundinanopen“trench”tunnel,freeoftrafficlights,andreservedexclusivelyforheavyvehicles,suchastrucksandlong-distancebuses.Thetunnelwillhavetwolanesrunningineachdirection.HeavyvehicleswillbeabletoenterthetunneldirectlyfromtheBuenosAires-LaPlataHighway(officiallycalledtheAutopistaDoctorRicardoBalbín)intheSouthandcrossthecitywithouttrafficlightstotheRetiroBusTerminalorPortintheNorth.ThehighwaywilluseIntelligentTransportationSystem(ITS)technologytoensurethatthecorrecttypeofvehicleisusingthecorrectlane.
Runningalongsidethetunnel,alongtheexistingAliciaMoreaudeJustoandMadero-HuergoAvenues,willbeeightlanes,fourrunningnorthandfourrunningsouth.Theselaneswillbereservedforlighttransit,suchascarsandshort-distancebuses,withdifferingspeedlimitstocontroltraffic.Twolaneswillhaveamaximumspeedof60km/hourandtwowillhaveamaximumspeedof40km/hour.
ThePaseodelBajowillalsoincludenewpublicspacesandgreenareas,locatedonthesidesofthelightvehiclelanesandabovethe“trench”tunnel.TheParquedelBajowillbedevelopedwithatotalareaof102,000m²opentothepublic,includingwidenedfootpaths,urbanfurniture,cyclepaths,children’splayareas,andexercisefacilities.Therewillbe60,000m²ofnewpublicspaces,ofwhich35,000m²willbegreenareas.
Image courtesy of Buenos Aires Cuidad (www.buenosaires.gob.ar) via La Nacion
FINANCING SOURCES
AMOUNT (USD MILLION)
Debt FinancingDevelopmentBankofLatinAmerica(CAF)Loan
400
Total Debt Financing 400
GrantsCityofBuenosAires(CABA)Government
300
Total Grants 300
Total Financing 700
FINANCING
Theprojectwillbe57%financedbyaloanfromtheDevelopmentBankofLatinAmerica(CAF),signedinagreementwiththeFederalGovernmentofArgentina.TheremainderofthefinanceistocomefromthegovernmentoftheCityofBuenosAires.
TheCAFloanispartofCAF’scommitmenttothedevelopmentofinfrastructureinArgentina,whichincludessovereignfinancingoperationsofuptoUSD2billioninthe2016-2019periodforinfrastructureworksandsocialdevelopment.Itwillhavea15-yeartenorwithafour-yeargraceperiod.
TheCABAgovernmentwillfinancetheprojectthroughthesaleofpublicareas,theproceedsofwhichwillgodirectlytofinancingtheconstructionofthePaseodelBajoproject.AttheendofOctober2017,theCABAgovernmentcollectedapproximatelyUSD80.7millionfromthesaleoftwoplotsofland(Plots4and5)aspartoftheCatalinasNorteIIproject.Thisprojecthasatotalofsevenplotsoflandtobeauctioned,theproceedsofwhichwillallgotowardsthePaseodelBajoproject.InDecember2017,Plot6wasawardedforUSD50.1million,withPlot7alsosoldlaterthatmonthforUSD50million.Morerecently,inApril2018,afifthplotofCatalinasNorteIIwassoldforjustoverUSD25million.Thefinaltwoplotswillbeauctionedlaterthisyear.
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ThecontractforBlockBinvolvestheconstructionofthesemi-coveredtrenchattheSouthendofthePaseodelBajo.Thissectionis1.5kmlongandrunsbetweenHumbertoPrimo,CarlosCalvoandBartoloméMitre.ThecontractforBlockCinvolvestheconstructionofthesemi-coveredtrenchattheNorthendoftheproject.Thissectionis2.5kmlongandstartsfromtheendoftheprevioussectionatBartoloméMitreandextendsuptothebeginningoftheNorthviaduct,passingAvenuedelosInmigrantes.Thetrencheswillhaveadepthof5.1metresandacorridorwidthof25metres.Thewallsofthetunnelwillbemadewithcastwalltechnology.
Tofacilitateconstructionoftheproject,therewillbenumerousroadclosuresduringtheconstructionperiod,implementedbyAUSA.Regularpublictransportrouteswillalsobedivertedtemporarily.
CONSTRUCTION
ThePaseodelBajoprojectisahugechallengefromanengineeringperspective,becauseitcrossesthroughoneofthebusiestandoldestareasofthecity.Itisanticipatedthatthiswillcreatesomechallengesduringtheconstructionphase,includingtherelocationoftwopipelines,theproximityoftherivertoconstruction,andthepresenceofmaingaspipes,sewersandelectricity.
Tofacilitateconstruction,theprojectwasseparatedintothreeconstructioncontracts;BlockA,B,andC.Thesewillbeexecutedsimultaneouslywiththesame28-monthcompletionterm.BlockAworkencompassestheconstructionoftheviaductsectionsatboththeNorthandSouthendofthePaseodelBajo.The700mlongSouthviaductstretchesfromtheintersectionofthe25deMayoandBuenosAires–LaPlataHighwaystothebeginningofthe“cut-and-cover”roadtunnel,betweenHumbertoPrimoandCarlosCalvo.The2.3kmlongNorthviaductpassesalongAvenuedelosInmigrantesuntilitsconnectionwiththeIlliaHighway.
Image courtesy of AUSA
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ARTIST’S IMPRESSION
Image courtesy of AUSA
VIADUCTS VIADUCTSOPEN TRENCH PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL TRENCH
DEEP COVERED TUNNEL
ROAD SURFACE
LEVELRAMPS
AppendixPASEO DEL BAJO ROUTE
ThecorridorwillbeginintheSouthoftheCityatthejunctionofthe25deMayoandtheBuenosAires-LaPlata(RicardoBalbín)Highways.Atthisjunction,theroadwayswillbebuiltasviaducts,whichwilldescendinheightuntiltheyreachCarlosCalvoandHumbertoPrimo,atwhichpointtheroadwillgobelowthesurfaceofthegroundtoformthe“cut-and-cover”tunnel.Thesemi-coveredtrenchattheSouthend(partoftheBlockBconstructioncontract)oftheprojectwillbeconstructedatEstadosUnidosstreet.Atthispoint,therewillalsobefourpedestriancrossings
tofacilitateaccesstoPuertoMadero.BehindtheCasaRosada,thetrenchwillbecomeadeepcoveredtunnel.Thecoveredsectionsofthetrencheswillbetransformedintogreenspaces.AttheAvenueRamosMejía,thetunnelwillbegintoriseagainuntilitemergestotheroad’ssurface.Atthispoint,therewillbeanentranceandexittotheRetiroTerminal.Afterthis,thecorridorwillcontinueonanelevatedviaduct,leadingtothePortandeventuallyconnectingwiththeIlliaHighwayandRetiroTolljunctionintheNorthofthecity.
Image courtesy of Buenos Aires Cuidad (www.buenosaires.gob.ar) via La Nacion
SHOWCASE PROJECT: Paseo del Bajo Road Corridor Project
Office Address Level 23, 68 Pitt St Sydney NSW 2000
Postal Address PO Box R1947, Royal Exchange Sydney NSW 1225 Australia
Tel +61 2 8315 5300 Email [email protected] www.gihub.org
The staff of the Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub) have prepared this summary of the Paseo del Bajo Project, and any opinions, findings and recommendations contained herein are not necessarily the views of the GI Hub Board of Directors, or the G20 member countries, or of other countries which are donors of the GI Hub. In this document, the GI Hub is not seeking to provide professional advice and, to the extent permitted by law, the GI Hub disclaims liability to any person or organisation in respect of anything done, or omitted to be done, in reliance upon information contained in this document.
Additional details on the Paseo del Bajo project can be found at:
https://www.ausa.com.ar/novedades/paseodelbajo/
http://www.buenosaires.gob.ar/planeamiento/visionciudad/paseo-del-bajo
ARGENTINA’S INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
SincePresidentMauricioMacri,formerMayoroftheCityofBuenosAires,tookofficeasArgentinianPresidentinDecember2015,oneofthemainprioritiesofhisadministrationhasbeentoimplementaninfrastructureplantohelpboosteconomiccompetitiveness,withaheavyfocusonenergyandtransportation.In2016,theArgentinianMinistryofTransportannouncedaUSD33billioninfrastructureinvestmentprogramtobecompletedin2019.Theprogramaimstoinvestinfivemaintransportationsegments:thecargorailnetwork,roadways,ports,airports,andurbantransportationinfrastructure.Overall,theinvestmentprogramwillconstitutethelargesttransportationinfrastructureplaninthecountry’shistoryoverafour-yearperiod.
Inlinewiththenationalinvestmentprogram,theCABAgovernmenthasalsoimplementeditsPublicWorksPlanfor2016-2019,whichrequiresinvestmentofapproximatelyUSD1.8billionandwillinvolveprojectsininfrastructure,housing,waterandhealthinitiatives.Theplanincludes838projects,ofwhichthePaseodelBajoprojectisone.