BR-324 and BR-116 Highways

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Via Bahia was awarded the project to expand, rehabilitate and operate the 680.6 km long toll road in January 2009 and took over the operation of the highway in October 2009, one month after the 25-year concession contract was signed. The project is part of the second phase of the second stage Federal Government Highway Concession program and comprises two highways: BR-116, part of the north-south corridor that links the countryside of Brazil and BR-324, which links the Port of Aratu and BR-116. The toll road serves 26 municipalities in the state of Bahia, including the cities of Salvador, Feira de Santana, Vitoria da Conquista e o Porto de Aratu. The contract was granted in a competitive bidding process based on the lowest toll rate criteria and the winning bid was 21% the ceiling set by the government. There were only two offers and the other offer, made by the consortium Companhia Brasileira de Rodovias, was only 10.1% below the ceiling (this consortium was comprised by the Brazilian companies Heleno e Fonseca Engenharia; LBR Engenharia e Consultoria; and the Canadian company CRA Engenharia e Construção). When the contract was signed, Via Bahia had as shareholders the Spanish company Isolux (75%) and the Brazilian construction companies Engevix (20%) and Encalso (5%). The private sponsors were expected to invest US$ 950 million (BRL 1,900 million) during the concession period. The initial construction works commenced still in 2009, but, by February 2010, the toll charging could not begin as planned because of delays in concluding the first phase of the rehabilitation works. Source of information: company website, concession contract, BNDES