Series of new road projects in planning for Guatemala

A series of major road projects in Guatemala now look set to go ahead. A US$340 million loan from the 3432 Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES) will most likely fund work to widen the 131km Mayuelas-Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla route to four lanes. A final decision on the financial package required for this project is due in September 2014. Meanwhile the tender process is opening for a 100km stretch of road running through El Rancho, San Agustin Acasaguastlan, El Progreso to Mayuelas, Gualan, Zacapa. The engineering study has been submitted for this project, which is expected to cost some $219 million. Widening work on the Escuintla-Ciudad Pedro de Alvarado, Jutiapa road to four lanes will commence on the 5th September 2014.