The National Government has launched a new concession scheme for the operation and maintenance of sections of the National Road Network, aimed at strengthening investment in infrastructure, modernising road management, and promoting a more efficient use of public resources.
Through Decree 28/2025, published on January 15th, the President established the sections and routes that shall be tendered within a twelve-month period under the provisions of Law No. 17.520 (Public Works Concession by Toll Law) and its amendments.
The tenders will be both National and International.
This initiative seeks to stimulate private sector participation in road development, ensuring improvements in service quality, sustained maintenance of routes, and greater predictability in investment planning.
Powers and Competent Authorities
The Decree grants the Ministry of Economy, through the Secretariat of Transport, the following powers:
- To modify the structure of the sections of the National Road Network.
- To call for National and International Public Tenders.
- To award and sign the respective contracts.
- To approve the general, specific, and technical terms and conditions.
- To organise the Concessions Commission and define its operation.
- To assess bidders and resolve any appeals.
Furthermore, the National Road Directorate shall act as the enforcing authority for both current and future road concession contracts, overseeing and monitoring their compliance. In turn, the Ministry of Economy shall issue the necessary supplementary regulations for the implementation of the tendering process.
Key aspects of the Concession Contract
The preliminary model of the concession contract published by Vialidad Argentina includes several key aspects of interest, among which the following stand out:
1. Contract Modality
The contract is framed within the Public Works Concession scheme based on Toll, under the Construction, Operation, and Maintenance (COM) modality.
2. Bidders and Concessionaire
- Bidders must meet the prequalification requirements established in the tender documents.
- The successful bidder must establish a public limited company (Sociedad Anónima) with the exclusive purpose of managing the concession.
- The shareholding structure of the concessionaire may not be altered, unless prior authorisation is obtained from the Enforcing Authority.
3. Works Included
The works included in the concession are as follows:
- Initial Works for Value Enhancement: Improvements to ensure trafficability.
- Rehabilitation Works: Reconstruction and repaving of roadways.
- Mandatory Works: Expansions and improvements as outlined in the technical specifications.
4. Remuneration and Financial Model
The concessionaire shall receive income from:
• Tolls charged to users.
• Complementary operations (service areas, commercial spaces, etc.).
5. Sanctioning Regime
The contract establishes financial penalties and the possibility of termination in the event of serious breaches in the execution of works or maintenance.
6. Term. Pending definition
It is important to clarify that the term of the Concessions has not yet been defined, as the terms and conditions of the bidding processes are currently preliminary.
Bidding Process and Next Steps
Stage One: Tendering of Corridor 18
In the initial phase, two sections of Corridor 18 shall be tendered, with the concession expiring on 9th April 2025. This corridor primarily includes National Routes 12 and 14, including the Rosario-Victoria Bridge, and spans the provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, and Corrientes.
The public hearings related to this phase were called by the National Road Directorate through Resolution 104/2025, in compliance with Decree 28/2025. These hearings took place on 25th and 27th February 2025. Subsequently, Vialidad Nacional published the Preliminary General Terms, including the Preliminary Contract Model, the General Terms and Conditions, and the Preliminary Technical Specifications.
Stage Two: Expansion of the Concession System
In a second phase, divided into eleven sections, more than 8,500 kilometres of roads currently managed by Corredores Viales S.A. shall
be tendered, including additional sections that were not previously under concession, such as:
- RN 33 in Santa Fe.
- RN 18 in Entre Ríos.
- RN 19 bypass in Córdoba.
The total tender process shall cover 9,342 kilometres across thirteen sections. These roads represent 20% of the National Road Network but account for 80% of vehicular traffic, which are detailed in the following table:
Conclusion
The new road concession scheme represents a strategic opportunity for private investment in infrastructure in Argentina. With a structured and transparent tendering process, the private sector shall have the opportunity to operate and maintain key corridors of the National Road Network, contributing to the modernisation of the transport system. Furthermore, the implementation of this model shall improve the quality of roads and associated services, benefiting both users and the country’s economic development.
Santiago Nicholson | Socio
T: +54 (11) 4872 1600 – santiago@nyc.com.ar
Eduardo Koch | Socio
T: +54 (11) 4872 1670 – ekoch@nyc.com.ar
Marcelo Villegas | Socio
T: +54 (11) 4872 1712 – mvillegas@nyc.com.ar