The national government took a key step in its plan to privatize highways. This Friday, through Disposition 884/2026 published in the Official Gazette, the Ministry of Economy approved the first stage of the tender for the concession of four sections of Corredores Viales SA: Mediterranean, Puntano, Portuario Sur, and Portuario Norte. A total of 18 companies submitted 41 bids, in a process that promises to be one of the most controversial of the year.
The Evaluation Commission recommended rejecting thirteen bids due to formal non-compliance, leaving heavyweight firms such as Rovella Carranza-JCR, IEB Construcciones-Trading MRG, CPC SA, Panedile Argentina-Supercemento-Eleprint, and Basaa-Cecosa in the race. However, not everything was smooth: the resolution also upheld a challenge filed by Creditech SA-Plantel SA, which had been excluded in the first instance due to alleged economic-financial solvency issues. After analyzing the claim, the Commission concluded that «the difference between the required and verified index lacked sufficient objective substance» to justify its rejection, and therefore recommended its prequalification in all four sections.
With this stage overcome, the government is heading toward the final award of the concessions, which will be operated under the public works concession regime with tolls. That is, users will finance the maintenance and improvements of the highways through toll collection. The measure, framed within the policy of adjustment and state reduction, is already generating controversy among sectors that denounce a hidden increase in rates and a handover of national infrastructure to private hands.
The schedule continues: the opening of Envelope No. 2, containing the economic bids of the prequalified companies, is scheduled for July 6, 2026 at 11 a.m., through the official CONTRAT.AR system. It will be then that the exact amounts that companies are willing to invest in exchange for operating the highways will be known. Meanwhile, the ruling party celebrates the progress of the process as a step toward efficiency, but criticism is not long in coming: from the opposition, they warn that this is a hidden privatization that will end up harming drivers and the pockets of Argentines.
The context is not minor: amid an economic crisis with galloping inflation and falling purchasing power, any increase in transportation costs directly impacts product prices. The government’s decision to move forward with these concessions, instead of maintaining state management, is seen by many as a measure that deepens the adjustment. However, the Ministry of Economy assures that privatization will improve the quality of highways without the need to allocate public funds.
The companies that manage to win the sections will assume the responsibility of maintaining and operating the corridors, in exchange for toll collection. Rates are expected to be updated periodically, generating uncertainty among users. The question that remains floating is: how much more will Argentines pay to travel on highways that were previously free or had lower tolls? The answer, at least for now, will be known by the companies and the government on July 6.
Para mí esto es un golazo, menos curro estatal y más libertad carajo. Los zurdos lloran porque se les termina el choreo con los peajes. Yo creo que los privados van a hacer un laburo de puta madre, y el que se opone es un enemigo del progreso. Vamos Milei, a romper todo.
Para mí esto huele a entrega nacional. 18 empresas compitiendo por nuestras rutas mientras los laburantes pagamos peaje. Se hacen los giles estos hijos de puta del gobierno, privatizando derechos. La guita a los amigos empresarios y el pueblo a joderse. ¡A la calle a pararlos ya!