Bolivia, Brazil, Chile
Agree On Road Corridor
Linking Pacific,
Atlantic
Bolivia, Brazil and
Chile have signed an
agreement to create a
corridor linking the
Pacific and Atlantic
oceans, according to
reports reaching here on
Monday.
Under the agreement
signed by the presidents
of the three countries
on Sunday at Bolivia's
government seat, the
Quemado Palace, the road
link will become
operational in 2009.
The Bolivia stretch of
the road totals 1,600
km, 75 percent of which
is ready for use. The
three unfinished parts
that link SantaCruz to
Puerto Suarez, Oruro to
Pisiga, and Santa Matias
to Concepcion require
us$415 million dollars,
us$78 million dollars
and us$260 million
dollars in investment
respectively.
In Chile, two projects
are under plan -- a
192-km road starting in
Arica and another 216-km
stretch linking Iquique
to its eastern border
with Bolivia.
Brazil will invest
nearly us$133 million
dollars refurbishing a
stretch of highway that
is already in use. A
total of 2,225 km of
existing road will be
re-profiled as part of
this corridor.
"I feel that this road
is a vital artery" that
allows integration and
unification of towns in
Chile, Bolivia and
Brazil, Bolivian
President Evo Morales
said at the signing
ceremony.
Chilean President
Michelle Bachelet
described the new link
as a dynamic stream that
"allows free flow of
people and growing
equality" among the
countries.
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