Progress is being made in the improvement and rehabilitation of highways to benefit the socioeconomic development of Nicaraguans

Managua, March 29th, 2022.- Improving physical accessibility has a social and economic multiplier effect by boosting production, trade and passenger traffic and, at present, more than 730,000 Nicaraguans have this benefit thanks to the construction of 194.39 kilometers of road in five of the country's departments and the Autonomous Regions of the Northern and Southern Caribbean Coast.

This with the technical and financial support of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) through the execution of the VII Road Improvement and Rehabilitation Program, contributing to improve the quality of life of the population in the departments of Managua, Masaya, León, Estelí, Jinotega and the North and South Caribbean Coast.

CABEI's Executive President, Dr. Dante Mossi, stated: "we are joining efforts to reduce poverty by promoting trade between each municipality and department of the country, saving on transportation operating costs, access to health and education services, opening up new tourism options and strengthening and integrating the region's road network are some of the many benefits of this Program.”

Positive impact on the socioeconomic development of the area of influence:

• Facilitating more fluid access for the population to hospitals, health centers, schools and markets.
• Promoting productivity and boosting local and departmental trade due to improved road conditions.
• Improved competitiveness as a result of the savings derived from the Program and the facilitation of access to productive inputs at lower costs, which will allow placing products on the markets at more competitive prices and in a shorter time, generating higher income and an increase in the population's standard of living.
• Promoting integration and trade in the Central American region.

In addition, this initiative will generate 2,989 direct jobs during the construction stage and, once the works are completed, 333 permanent jobs are expected to be created for the maintenance of the road segments during the useful life of the roads.

CABEI Nicaragua Country Chief Officer, Carlos De Castilla, explained: "Currently, the execution of the works is 81.67% complete, benefiting Nicaraguan families. Likewise, the Program is divided into six road segments with different asphalt pavement structures, short slab-type hydraulic concrete and concrete paving stones, which translates into a highly durable road infrastructure. To date, the León, Empalme Kukra-Hill and La Garita-Coyotepe Accesses projects have been completed.”

The initiative also contemplates miscellaneous works such as the construction of bus bays and shelters, pedestrian walkways and guardrail systems, as well as the implementation of all signage and the corresponding environmental and social mitigation measures.