The Northeast Express Via is a four -lane project that It will seek to connect the municipalities of Fraijanes, Palencia, San José Pinula and the municipality of Guatemalafrom a libramiento that can be crossed in around 24 minutes, according to Karla de la Cruz, deputy director of structuring and interim contracting of the National Agency for Development Alliances (ANADIE).
Currently, there is already a preliminary stroke where the release will pass, said Cecilia Pivaral, director of the Revolvent Fund for the pre -investment in strategic infrastructure. The expert explained that this new libramiento has the objective of connecting from the CA-1 Oriente with the South CA-9, through Vas, which in turn will generate a libramiento to the city of Guatemala. This libramiento will have 27.6 km of construction.
This project was previously the responsibility of the ANADIE; However, from The approval of the Priority Road Infrastructure Lawwill be the work of the Priority Road Infrastructure Board (DIPP) coordinate the construction of the work.
According to De la Cruz, the studies conducted from the ANADIE showed that the project – who previously contemplated only two lanes – could be ready in three years, after the definitive engineering studies were approved. He adds that time will not double due to the change of two lanes to four: “It could increase a little more, but it does not double.”
The first studies conducted for the construction of this work were developed in 2017, Pivaral said. However, De la Cruz mentioned that, at the time, financing of US $ 320 million was estimated. With the increase in lanes, from the cross estimated a total of US $ 740 million for construction. Pivaral explained that the beginning of Tenders for the project could occur until November 2026.
The funds will be achieved through the Fund for Priority Projects (FOVIP), Pivaral said. In addition, he pointed out that, thanks to the implementation of the law, the contractual conditions for a period of time are generated in which whoever is awarded must comply with the milestones of the contract. These milestones, according to Pivarral, They should be of construction, operation and maintenance of the work.
A new agreement
On April 2, 2025, an agreement was signed between the municipalities where the release will pass, during the conversation Infrastructure in the department of Guatemalaorganized by the ENADE.
According to Ricardo Quiñónez, mayor of the municipality of Guatemala, the municipalities that have joined the intermunicipal agreement They are the ones that lead the competitiveness ranking, According to Fundesa, and those who have the highest GDP per capita. From these data, the mayor announced the signing of the agreement, whose objective is to avoid problems of road law for the construction of the new libramiento.
Based on said agreement, the mayors of the four municipalities through which the release will pass immobilized the areas where the project will be executed. This means, Pivaral explained, that Construction licenses cannot be granted for the sections that are required for the completion of the work.
In addition, from the agreement, Pivaral revealed that the mayors of these four municipalities will be in charge of manage a joint public transport system, to offer connectivity to the sectors close to this new release.
On the other hand, Pivaral reported that also The construction of road distributors, also known as clover, which will be in charge of diverting vehicles that seek to reach close destinations in the mentioned municipalities.
Northeast express: What is needed?
Due to the lack of update of the studies, Pivaral mentioned that the first step is to re -elaborate these documents, although he added that those previously presented by the ANADIE constitute a solid basis for the necessary modifications.
De la Cruz argued that Among the points that must be updated is the projected demandsince, from the pandemic, there is a greater amount of cars in the area.
In addition, the total integration of the priority road infrastructure (DIPP) is necessary, since its members will be responsible for including, early, the project in the priority road infrastructure plan, according to Pivarral. For this, a Evaluation of the road network, which must be completed no later than 2026.