After almost a century, it seems that the antagonism between the Atlantic and the Pacific is beginning to be overcome by road corridors in underdeveloped regions. The Bioceanic road corridor is a physical integration project connecting Porto Murtinho (Mato Grosso do Sul) with the ports of northern Chile near the Tropic of Capricorn.
The first road that crosses the Paraguayan Chaco in an east-west direction is being paved and should be completed in 2022. The sections in Argentina and Chile are ready and need rapid improvement. The resources for the bridge between Porto Murtinho in Brazil and Carmelo Peralta in Paraguay have already been approved by Itaipu Binacional. The completed work is expected to be ready in 2023.
Paraguay president inaugurates a new section of Bioceanic Road linking his country to Brazil and Chile.
Mario Abdo Benítez inaugurated 13.5 km of paved Bioceanic Road in the department of Alto Paraguay. The road will connect the country to the ports of both Brazil and Chile.
By Latin America News - September 30, 2021
2020
The Development Bank approved the “ Project Improvement and Paving Route PY-15 Mariscal Estigarribia Section - Pozo Hondo and Access to Mariscal Estigarribia in the Department of Boquerón of the Republic of Paraguay ”. The financing is over 354 million dollars and will be granted in three stages. This is the largest loan financed by FONPLATA for the physical integration of the region, completing a strategic interoceanic corridor that links Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile.
The objective of the project is to contribute to achieving safe and uninterrupted transit between the towns of Mariscal Estigarribia and the border area of Pozo Hondo in the Paraguayan department of Boquerón. This strategic investment in communications, transportation, and logistics infrastructure in western Paraguay will constitute a key factor for the country's economic development as it will improve local and regional integration in the area and contribute to sustained economic growth.
The execution of said road section has been considered a priority by the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay in the "Declaration of Asunción on Bi-oceanic Corridors" of December 2015, when they agreed to "promote the carrying out of technical studies and formulate the pertinent recommendations for the prompt completion of the Campo Grande - Puerto Murtinho (Brazil) - Carmelo Peralta - Mariscal Estigarribia - Pozo Hondo (Paraguay) - La Paz Mission - Tartagal - Jujuy - Salta (Argentina) - Sico - Jama - Ports of Antofagasta highway corridor - Mejillones - Iquique (Chile) ”.
The works will involve the implementation of a newly paved road of 227.6 km, of which 219.5 km corresponds to the improvement and paving of the section of the National Route PY-15 between these towns, also contemplating its maintenance during the first eight years once the road works are completed. In turn, the project includes the execution and equipping of the Border Center Building in the town of Pozo Hondo and two weighing and toll stations. This section of highway in Paraguay will enable a new inter-oceanic road link to facilitate foreign trade movements, linking the country with Brazil via Porto Murtinho in the State of Mato Grosso del Sur and from there to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as with Argentina via La Paz Mission in the Province of Salta and from there with Chile to the ports on the Pacific Ocean.
Paraguay and Chile are launching a technical cooperation (2015)
Paraguay and Chile are launching a technical cooperation program to construct a highway corridor to connect the two countries.
A bi-national delegation is to be formed to advance the project, with members including Chilean and Paraguayan transport and public works officials, according to a Paraguayan release.
Investment in the project could be up to US$1bn, Paraguay's public works and communications minister Ramón Jiménez Gaona said previously.
The route would provide landlocked Paraguay with easier access to Asian markets, where some 40% of the country's exports are bound, Gaona said.
Meanwhile, Paraguay is seeking measures to streamline public-private partnerships in the country. While legislation permitting the associations was passed in late 2013, the government has yet to get its first PPP.
Source: Noah Ramirez (bnamericas.com)
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