ROAD

closed

The Road Project for Gabon will assist in financing a highway development program. The project is economically justified. The proposed roads will open up the interior region of the country designated as the "Second Forest Zone" for timber exploitation. The economy of Gabon relies very heavily on its timber exports, which account for about sixty percent of its export earnings. The project components are: 1) construction and improvement of 185 km of roads including final engineering and supervision of construction by consultants; 2) employment by the Directorate of Public Works (DPW) of three engineers and some additional personnel to assist in the administrative, technical, and financial operation of the project, including setting up a pilot maintenance division; 3) employment of consultants to carry out feasibility studies and preliminary engineering of about 280 km of additional roads and river loading facilities in N'Djole; and 4) procurement of maintenance equipment, spare parts, and shop facilities. These additions will develop the highway system in order to promote the production and exportation of timber.