Amazonas The State of Amazonas is planning to build a monorail in Manaus in preparation for hosting the World Cup soccer tournament in 2014. The project entails building a 12.4-mile-long line from Largo da Matriz to Jorge Teixeira, with a total of nine stations. The project has been awarded to a consortium comprising Scomi Engineering, CR Almeida S/A Engenharia De Obras, Mendes Junior Trading E Engenharia S/A and Serveng-Civilsan S/A Empresas Associadas De Engenharia. The project's value has been estimated at $860 million. Contact CR Almeida. CR Almeida, Ave. Vicente Machado, 1771 Batel, Curitiba.

MaranhÃo Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts is planning to build a Holiday Inn Express Hotel in San Luis. The project entails building a 128-room hotel with a swimming pool. The project is valued at between $5 million and $10 million. Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, Vendor Product Dept., Three Ravinia Dr., Atlanta, Ga., 30346.

ParanÁ Tha Group is planning to build The Gate, a high-rise residential development in Curitiba. The project entails building a 13-story tower containing 170 units, split between one-bedroom apartments and studios, all with balconies. The development will include leisure areas on the second and twelfth floors and the attic as well as a 92-space underground parking garage. U.S. real estate developer Sam Zell acquired a controlling stake in Tha Group six months ago through his investment company Equity International. The project is valued at between $25 million and $50 million. Tha Group, Attn: Valdecir Scharnoski, Project Manager, Ave. Marechal Deodoro 630, Centro Curitiba 80010.

ParanÁ The Curitiba state government is planning to build the Azul metro line in Curitiba. The project entails building a 14.2-kilometer line with 13 stations, connecting the Rua das Flores station downtown with the CIC Sul station in the southernmost part of the city. The owner is offering bidders a 34-year concession that involves constructing the line, which is expected to take four years, as well as operating and maintaining it for the remainder of the contract. Any international consortiums that bid must be led by a Brazilian company. A winner will be selected based on the lowest passenger fare. The project is valued at $1.3 billion. Curitiba State Government, Ave. Candido de Abreu 817, Curitiba.

Rio De Janeiro Starwood Hotels & Resorts is planning to renovate its Sheraton Rio Hotel & Resort, located in Rio de Janeiro's Leblon neighborhood. The project entails the phased renovation of the hotel's 542 guest rooms, lounge and lobby as well as an expansion of the hotel's convention center to 27,400 sq ft from 22,400 sq ft. The project is valued at between $25 million and $50 million. Starwood Hotels & Resorts, One Starpoint, Stamford, Conn. 06902.

Rio De Janeiro The Brazilian federal government is planning to build the Transbrasil Bus Rapid Transit line along Avenida Brasil, Rio de Janeiro's main east-west artery. This 20-mile-long rapid-transit bus corridor will have 25 stops and link the Deodoro neighborhood, which will contain several of the Olympic venues, to the Santos Dumont domestic airport. The Transbrasil BRT will form part of a new, four-line, high-performance transportation ring. No start date has been set for construction. The project is valued at $1 billion. Rio De Janeiro City Government, 360 South Clement St., Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro.

Rio De Janeiro The Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games has selected Hanse Golf Course Design to design the 2016 Olympic golf course. The project includes the 18-hole Olympic course, a clubhouse, a maintenance building and a three-hole teaching facility. The course will be located in the Reserva de Marapendi park in Rio's Barra de Tijuca neighborhood. Hanse is based in Malvern, Pa., and is led by its president and lead designer Gilbert Hanse. After the 2016 Games, the course will become a public facility. The project has beenvalued at between $10 million and $15 million. Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, Avenida das Américas 899, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, 22631 000.

SÃo Paulo The Monotrilho Integracao consortium has started construction on the Line 17 monorail in São Paulo. The project entails building a 17.7-km line connecting Congonhas International Airport to the metro rail network. Line 17 will have 18 stations and connect with Metro Line 1 at Jabaquara station, Line 4 at São Paulo-Morumbi station, Line 5 at Água Espraiada station and Line 9 at Morumbi station. The consortium is made up of Scomi Engineering of Malaysia, Andrade Gutierrez, CR Almeida, Engenharia de Obras and Montagens e Projectos Especiais. It will design, construct, supply and commission the system. The project owner is Companhia do Metropolitano de São Paulo (CMSP), the state rail company. Construction is expected to be completed by 2016. The project has been valued at $1.07 billion. Andrade Gutierrez, Ave. Contour 8123, Garden City, Belo Horizonte 30110, Brazil.