Buenos Aires Metro Extensions, Argentina

Approval has been given by Buenos Aires city council for the construction of three more lines for the city's metro system, which will bring 70% of the population within 400m of a metro station.

NEW METRO LINES

The three new routes, which will become Lines F, G and I, will add 22km to the network, taking it to around 97km in total when Line H and other line extensions are complete.

Line F will run from Constitucion to Plaza Italia and will include 13 new stations.

Line G will connect Retiro and Cid Campeador with 11 intermediate stations.

Line I will run from Emilio Mitre to Plaza Italia with ten new stations.

The new lines will mean that two million Buenos Aires citizens, or around 70% of the city's population, will live within 400m of a metro station.

30 YEAR CONCESSIONS

Metro construction authority, Subterraneos de Buenos Aires, is looking to take the projects forward as build-operate-transfer schemes with private sector companies being awarded 30-year concessions in return for contributions of around 600m pesos to the cost of the programme.

The Argentine government will also contribute around 900m pesos to the scheme, together with Line H and extensions to other lines already under construction.

Subterraneos de Buenos Aries has already received bids for civil works on the 2.5km extension of Line E from Bolivar to Retiro from Dycasa and Dragados, Jose Cartellone, SadeSkanska and Techint/Benito Roggio.

Work is due to start in January 2002.