Three construction groups submitted bids this week for a major public works contract to restore Panama City’s iconic coastal beltway and causeway. The Ministry of Public Works (Panama) is managing the public tender, which carries a reference budget of 26.1 million dollars for comprehensive rehabilitation work.
Officials opened the economic proposals virtually on December 26. The project scope covers extensive green space maintenance alongside critical civil, road, and structural interventions across three defined zones.
Bidding Details and Project Scope
The contract will be awarded by specific line items, allowing for independent work assignments across strategic areas. This approach provides flexibility in managing the large-scale restoration. All three competing consortia submitted bids for each of the three project segments.
For the first segment covering the 4-kilometer Amador Causeway, the budget is estimated at 6 million dollars. The second segment involves the 5.4-kilometer Coastal Beltway Stages I and II with an 11.2 million dollar reference. The third includes the 5.5-kilometer Stage III and the Pacific Lookout, estimated at 8.96 million dollars.
Consortium S&C Cinta Costera y Calzada de Amador submitted the lowest bid for the causeway work at 5,079,106.74 dollars. The same group, however, presented the highest bid for the Stage I and II segment at 11,536,000 dollars. Bids for the third segment were identical to those for the first, according to the opening documents.
“The contract will have a duration of three years, equivalent to 1,095 calendar days, counted from the order to proceed,” the MOP stated in its project specifications. [Translated from Spanish]
Project terms stipulate that 30 percent of the contract value corresponds to fixed works. The remaining 70 percent will be executed under a measured work model, adjusting payments for tasks actually completed. This structure is common in large-scale public procurement for infrastructure.
Addressing Urban Deterioration
This tender responds to visible wear on the popular recreational areas. The project specifically includes rehabilitating the marine section and breakwater on the causeway. These areas are vital for tourism and daily life in the capital.
The contract opening was presided over by the Director of Contract Administration, Martha Alemán. Authorities from the MOP and the legal team of the Special Projects Office also participated. Their immediate next step is the formal evaluation of all technical and economic proposals.
Winning this contract means securing a significant piece of Panama’s urban renewal efforts. The restoration aims to reverse deterioration documented in public spaces along the Cinta Costera. Success hinges on effective execution across the multi-year timeline.
This investment occurs amid broader discussions about funding for municipal infrastructure. Local governments continue to seek resources for similar projects, highlighting a constant demand for improvement public works nationwide. The ministry’s decision is expected in the coming weeks.