Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project

closed

The Road Rehabilitation Project will improve access, and transit conditions of key segments of the national, and secondary road network, and will as well strengthen the capacity to manage road assets. Project components will: 1) prioritize segments rehabilitation of the national road network, based on an in-depth government analysis of rehabilitation alternatives, confirmed against results of the Transport Master Plan. Construction works will take place within the existing right-of-way, with no displacement foreseen; 2) pilot secondary roads rehabilitation, based on eligibility criteria, linking road segments to main economic corridors, thus facilitating road transport, and accessibility. Maximum rehabilitation costs per Km will be specified, and institutional requirements completed on road investment planning, financing, and programming, and, socioeconomic and environmental criteria shall comply with established safeguards; 3) fund a road maintenance national account on a yearly declining basis, as the financing source for the 2002-2006 routine maintenance, and resurfacing program of the road network, in strict compliance with environmental regulations; 4) provide technical assistance for, development of road safety initiatives, strengthening capacities, pre-investment road studies, supervising rehabilitation works, and carrying out performance audits of resources allocation, and independent opinions on trunk-road conditions, including impact evaluations on local livelihoods; and, 5) strengthen institutional development, by consolidating sector reforms, developing alternative mechanisms for road maintenance activities, and setting information management systems to strengthen financial accountability, which includes training.