Brazilian engineering firm Galvao Engenharia won its first highway toll concession this month, awarded by Brazil’s land transport regulator, ANTT. Galvao Engenharia bid against three rival teams for the 30-year concession for BR-153, a 624.8-km-long federal road between Anapolis, in Goià state, and Gurupi, in Tocantin state.

Behind the clutch of bidders for BR-153 is Brazil’s transport minister, Cesar Borges, who engineered a consensus with road developers on the terms of the tender prior to its roll out. As a result, BR-153 was shortened by 200 km, which reduced by 35% the cost estimate to upgrade the highway.