Mexico City Invites Tenders for Two Projects to Improve Vehicular TrafficMexico City is the populous city of Mexico with 8.7 million inhabitants in 2005. Greater Mexico City, which incorporates 59 adjacent municipalities, had a population of 19.2 million in 2006, making it the second largest metropolitan area in the world. The west side of Mexico City is growing at an accelerated rate, which causes traffic congestion in the main streets and roads of the area. This calls for a comprehensive solution with the highest quality, technology and security standards that also protects the environment. The future Reforma motorway tunnel and western motorway will be fast, non-stop toll roads that will comply with the highest technical and security standards in the world. The projects represent an investment of approximately USD1.7 billion and will generate thousands of jobs. Click mx/22.Mexico City created a company in December 2007, named Capital en Crecimiento, to encourage private finance initiative in infrastructure projects. The company has just invited tenders for the two projects. The financing set-up to be used to construct the tunnel that will connect Paseo de la Reforma with Santa Fe and the western motorway is still being analysed, and the final details will be available on 30th May. To date, 100 national and international companies have approached the federal district government to participate in the construction of both schemes.Reforma motorway tunnelThe Reforma tunnel will start at Carlos Echanove to end at Insurgentes Roundabout. Its estimated total length ranges from 8 to 16 km, connecting the two financial districts of the city: Santa Fe and Reforma. The Reforma tunnel will be the longest vehicular urban tunnel in the Americas.Western motorwayThe western motorway will connect the west and the south sides of the city and will include tunnels, bridges and roadways. The total length of this motorway will be 4 to 7 km. The project will cross Las Aguilas roadway, the Desierto de los Leones roadway and the Las Torres Avenue and will connect Avenida de los Poetas with Avenida Luis Cabrera. 21/08.