An announcement has been made for the launch in 2013 of a $4 million tender for a study of the construction of a mega bypass highway in the Guatemalan metropolitan area.
After having dragged on through the course of the present administration, the project, initially called the Peripheral Metropolitan Ring Road and then the Regional Ring Road, has been mentioned by the communications minister, Alejandro Sinibaldi, who announced that "the objective is to perform engineering and ground plan studies. The new studies will cost U.S. $4 million and the bidding process will begin in June 2013. "
Guatemala's Congress has approved a loan of $119 million from the CABEI and another from BNDES of Brazil for $280 million, for the expansion to four lanes of the highway to the Pacific.
The Ministry of Communications will be the executor of the road project to be financed with the two loans.
The expansion to four lanes will be on the route from Cocales, Suchitepéquez, to Tecun Uman, San Marcos.
Guatemala's President Otto Perez has announced the construction of a 120 km road linking Ixcán with Quiché.
An article in Siglo21.com reports that "The president announced that the recently approved loan by the Legislature, which amounts to $160 million, will be used to build a road from the Ixcán Township to connect with Quiche."
"The loan has already been approved, work will start on drawing up the agreement between the Ministries of Finance and Communications, in order to put out a tender to select the companies that will do the construction", said the president.
The Guatemala Ministry of Communications is studying roadways in order to determine the suitability of a public-private partnership tender.
The project covers approximately 12 kilometers and includes the construction of two bridges. The works will start at kilometer 62 of the Inter-American Highway to San Andres Itzapa, which will connect up with route CA-11 and then at kilometer 49 to San Miguel Morazán.
A regional airport, a highway on the Pacific, and other road projects would be feasible within the framework of the Law of Partnerships for Economic Infrastructure Development.
Of the most ambitious projects planned is the construction of a four lane road along the Guatemalan Pacific coastline, which includes the construction of two bridges. Another project is the construction of alternate routes to expedite traffic in different sections of the province, which include Chimaltenango, San Sebastian and Cuyotenango, Suchitepéquez, and San Bernardino, Retalhuleu
In Guatemala, legislative barriers are delaying 3 loan approvals for infrastructure, competitiveness and development.
Three loans totaling $179 million are in danger of being lost due to delays in Congress in approving the loans, despite having them on the agenda.
One is for $29 million for a National Programme for Competitiveness (Pronacom), which is on the verge of collapse due to lack of funds, reports El Diario de Centro America.
In order to exploit the country's geographical location, a proposed plan looks to widen to four lanes those roads that connect borders and ports, at a cost of $1.6 billion.
A statement from the Presidency of Guatemala reads:
In order to increase the country’s competitiveness, the communications minister, Alejandro Sinibaldi, introduced on Tuesday a project to build a logistics center connecting ports and borders.
The president of Guatemala has announced a master infrastructure program for the construction and expansion of roads and bridges.
President Otto Perez Molina announced the launch of several major infrastructure projects, among which are two roads: one from port to port (from Santo Tomas de Castilla, Izabal, to Quetzal, Escuintla) and one border to border (from Mexico to El Salvador).
President Alvaro Colom announced the construction of a highway linking the border of Mexico and El Salvador.
During a state communications program, known as “Presidential Office”, he said that the official announcement will be made next year, and explained how the project will be funded.
On the subject, Communications Minister Guillermo Castillo added that financing would come from a soft loan provided by Brazil.
The Guatemalan congress has approved a budget extension worth $161 million in response to the national emergency.
Of the funds provided by the World Bank and donations $62 million will go to Guatemala's Highways Fund, Covial, and $25 million to pay contractors.
"According to the president of the finance committee, Mario Taracena, while the proposal was authorized as a national emergency, its approval comes late as the country's needs, which were caused by tropical storm Agatha, have intensified during the winter," reports Elperiodico.com.gt.