Chilean authorities will review the country’s infrastructure development plan and will reset the timetable of some initiatives to focus on reconstruction following last month’s earthquake, public works minister (MOP) Hernán de Solminihac told BNamericas.

The measure will involve public, private and concessioned initiatives, said the minister, adding that the government’s goal is to make funds available for the reconstruction of damaged bridges, highways, railways and ports.

The construction of state-owned firm Metro’s US$2bn line 6, in capital Santiago, is one of the initiatives that could suffer delays, as authorities redirect funds to finance the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit central-southern Chile on February 27.

The subway line, announced in December, would be 15km long and have 12 stations, and relieve congestion on the system’s busiest line, number 1.

The concession of the US$1.04bn Vespucio Oriente urban expressway concession project, whose tender is expected this year, is also likely to be affected, as companies and the public sector focus on reconstruction.

In addition, other concession projects whose tenders were underway or expected to be launched soon, are likely to be modified, as they will probably include rehabilitation and reconstruction works, an official from MOP’s concessions division told BNamericas, adding that some technical aspects are also likely to be revised to help prevent damage in a future earthquake.

Also expected to be pushed back is the Chacao bridge initiative to link the mainland with the southern island of Chiloé, which recently inaugurated President Sebastián Piñera said he was willing to reconsider; and the construction of Metro’s line 3, whose priority was considered higher than that of Line 6 to many of Piñera’s advisors, the official said.

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