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COSTA RICA |
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MOPT:
Bridge Network Requires us$200 Million
Costa Rica's Ministerio de Obras Públicas y
Transportes - public works and
transport ministry (MOPT) - says it needs to
invest us$200 million over the next three
years to improve bridge infrastructure,
local paper La Nación reported.
These resources would be sufficient to carry
out maintenance on the country's bridges
which have been neglected for several
decades.
However, MOPT does not have enough budget to
complete the works, as the amount represents
82% of road council Conavi's 2010 budget,
which is approximately us$245 million, the
report said.
In its 2010 annual budget, Conavi designated
us$15 million for bridge repairs which is
only enough to repair 10 of the total 1,300
bridges in the national road network.
The structures considered to be a priority
by Conavi are those which are vital for
tourism, and national and international
trade.
The newly appointed MOPT minister Marco
Vargas confirmed that bridge repair and
construction will be a government priority
until May 8 of next year, when President
Óscar Arias' administration comes to an end.
To finance some of the other works, the
ministry aims to use a us$17 million loan
from the Central American Bank for Economic
Integration (Cabei).
Vargas has said he wants to use part of a
us$850 million IDB transport and
infrastructure loan. However, the disbursal
of this loan has been delayed because
congress has still not approved the funding. |
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