The Coastal Road, which makes its way near the Salvadoran coast, could be expanded in the coming years, or at least that is what the Salvadoran government is currently looking for, according to the Minister of Public Works, Romeo Rodríguez.
In an interview on Channel 21, the official confirmed that talks are under way with the Korean Government for funding, and would also be responsible for implementing feasibility studies in 2025.
“With Korea we saw Los Chorros and we have been looking at the issue of the expansion of the coastal road (…) We’re looking at that with Korea, the issue of funding. There is a bet that from next year they will do the feasibility studies, since they have asked that these studies be updated,” Rodriguez said.
According to the minister, such studies could last for six months, so it could be completed around July 2025. “I think in July because they do an internal recruitment process, then it may take that process to them in January,” he explained.
At the end of the studies, according to the official, the funding testing process will continue and, although he did not detail how long it could take, he said it is safe to be ready by the end of the same year.
“Because of the type of funds with which the project is being visualized, the (interest payable) rate would be around 0.05 percent to 0.10, more or less,” the minister said.
Although it was not explained how many lanes such a road could be extended, the head of the MOP did mention that the part that would benefit most from this project would be the section that includes between Zacatecoluca and Usulután.
“When it comes to approval we are going to make the announcement, but the important thing is that the resources are being managed to develop these large-scale projects, because that is a project that could be around $400 million,” he concluded.
A previous loan
Last September, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) approved a loan of $113.9 million to extend a section of the Coastal Road, in the area of La Libertad and Tamanique, as well as for improvement works in the area known as kilo 5.
With this loan, the BCIE assured that the Salvadoran authorities will extend this section of the road to four lanes and 8,67 kilometers of road infrastructure, pedestrian and cycling network will be improved in the districts of La Libertad and Tamanique.
This article was translated after appearing in La Prensa Grafica