The work they have been building in Medellín for 5 years and nothing that finishes it

On December 4, 2017, Metroplús' work began on Calle 12, Aguacatala sector, which, supposedly, would be completed on February 4, 2019. But neither the municipal mayor of Medellín nor Metroplús could foresee that the initial contractor, the Cydcon consortium, would fail to comply with everything agreed.

This led to an extension of 186 days to the contract, until August 19, 2019, but it could not be fulfilled on that new date either. At that time, the project had an advance of only 55.9%. Therefore, if the contract was terminated, the work was stopped and a new award had to be made to the Southern Temporary Union; with auditing by the firm Escala CCI SAS.

The works resumed on April 19, 2021, but so far they have not been completed. According to Metroplús, the project has no cost overruns. The work is carried out for more than 22.9 billion pesos. The stretch is 1.8 kilometers between Avenues El Poblado and Guayabal, which will connect the municipalities of Medellin, Envigado and Itagüí.

Initially, an excavation was made to adapt the area where the underground that contains the waters of the La Jabalcona ravine is located, and which is located on Calle 12 sur. The contracting company found that this infrastructure will need to be rebuilt. On the other hand, the road is being adapted where vehicles coming from 80th Avenue and which must cross to take 12th Street south to the La Aguacatala sector will be routed, as the bridge where they currently cross will be rebuilt.

Currently, the project is 48% complete. According to El Colombiano, a statement from Metroplus states that “the south side of the road has been intervened, with the construction of 66 box culvert modules and transition walls in the La Jabalcona ravine. Wet and dry networks, a hydraulic structure, a block wall have also been installed in the Antioquia Liquor Factory and the transfer of the high-voltage network was carried out. In addition, the construction of filters and fills, a new jersey wall, street furniture and street lighting have been carried out. Similarly, 16 linear meters have been built for the Aguacatala underground pedestrian crossing and they have given life to the corridor and its surroundings with the planting of 246 arboreal individuals, 74 transplants and protecting 20 trees in conservation”.

This uncertainty generated by the non-compliance of these works is in addition to the 7 infrastructure projects promised by Mayor Daniel Quintero, of which only 2 are in progress in the north of Medellín.

Among the works that were announced are: stage 1 of Parques del Río Norte, the expansion of the Santa Cruz Hospital Unit, the Mental Hospital, a university citadel and the road project to connect this area with the south by bicycle route. The delivery of these five projects is budgeted for 2023.

But, as noted earlier, only 2 are running, the Aranjuez Police Station and the Biblioteca España, are running. The first is awarded with a contract for 11.7 billion and the second for 28,75 million.

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