Renew support for road integration of Brazil and the Andean Community

To back the South American integration process, the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) today approved at its CVIII Board Meeting a US$35 loan million for Brazil, which will be used to partially finance the execution of investments in the highway resurfacing and paving program, along with the building of bridges with a view to integrating the State of Rondonia with the countries of the Andean Community.

The executive president of the CAF, Enrique García, said this operation falls within the priorities the multilateral lender grants to physical infrastructure projects, defined in the “Initiative for the Integration of the South American Regional Infrastructure” (IIRSA) approved by the South American presidents in Brasilia in 2000.

The execution of the works for the Rondonia highway network will integrate productive areas of the region and move forward the process of integrating the road system of Brazil – and MERCOSUR – with the Andean Community.

The Program covers paving and other supplementary works for 15 sections in Rondonia which connect with highway BR-364. To the north, this highway joins up via the Madeira River waterway with Manaus and Highway BR-174, which in turn connects with Venezuela and the Caribbean. In addition to road resurfacing, the project includes works on the Abuná and Guayaramerín bridges which will integrate Brazil with Peru and Bolivia.

The improvements to the 15 routes included in the Program will increase safety and open access to the productive areas of localities close to the BR-364 in the State of Rondonia, especially during the rainy season, since the works comprise paving, repair and execution of current works, drainage and seal layer.

As the Program relates to works on existing roads, only minor environmental and social risks are involved, which can be reduced with appropriate management of the area.