Guatemala targets repairs to 40% of its roads

Guatemala will repair around 1,800km of the country's 6,000km of roads during the current administration of President Jimmy Morales which ends in June next year.

Jose Benito, Minister of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing, made the statement as reported by national media. Benito said that 36 projects are underway, all to be completed by the end of this year, and another 100 projects will be completed in 2019.

This autumn state media reported that the country had set a budget of US$208.5 million for road repairs and maintenance works in 2018. A further 25 contracts will be awarded for repairs works by the end of the year.

Work has been ongoing on several major routes during the last half of this year with 10 major routes totalling 153km. One of these is road connecting Tulate with La Maquina.

In March, SBI International  said it will carry out US$93 million of road construction to four sections of road in Alta Verapaz and Quiche, totalling 144km. SBI International is a subsidiary of Israeli firm Solel Boneh International. A $100 million loan from Japan's International Cooperation Agency provided financing for the work.