Democratic Republic of Congo - Batshamba-Tshikapa Road Improvement Project: Loange Bridge - Lovua Bridge Section

This project relates to the development of the remaining 56-km portion of the Batshamba-Tshikapa road between Lovua and Tshikapa on the NR1, including the construction of a new bridge over the Kasaï River which crosses Tshikapa town. It supplements earlier Bank interventions on the same road: (i) between Nsele-Lufimi (93+850 km) and Kwango-Kenge (70+34 km) through a UA 52.45 million grant and completed in 2011; and (ii) between Loange and Lovua (63 km) financed by an ADF grant of UA 53.55 million approved in 2012. The project will help to open up Bandundu and West Kasaï Provinces, by linking them to the Capital Province of Kinshasa. In particular, the project will halt the massive exodus of youths towards mining operations, prevalent in the project area in permanently insecure conditions, and maintain them in their homelands to engage in profitable agricultural activities. The project, to be implemented from December 2013 to December 2018, comprises four components, namely: (i) road works; (ii) related works; (iii) institutional support, management and monitoring; and (iv) compensation of affected persons.