Appreciations of the Production Chain for the Construction of the Tren Maya Railway Viaduct, and Its Consistency in the Generation of Public Value

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between public value, private value, and innovation through an analysis of the construction process of the Tren Maya railway viaduct, focusing on the contrast between public management logic and private-sector productive rationality. Using an analytical approach, the study shows that public value creation in large-scale infrastructure projects is not an automatic outcome of execution but an aspiration shaped by institutional arrangements, productive processes, and evaluation mechanisms. The analysis of the design and construction of the elevated viaduct in Section 5 reveals a structural asymmetry between private value generation—immediately materialized through productive efficiency and cost optimization—and public value creation, whose benefits unfold over the medium and long term. The findings indicate that the innovations implemented correspond mainly to continuous improvements and process innovations rather than disruptive innovations, highlighting the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms capable of aligning private-sector incentives with declared public objectives.