San Salvador, El Salvador – The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) and the Road Conservation Fund (Fovial) have announced a significant investment of over $600 million in infrastructure projects for 2025. The announcement was made by the Minister of Public Works, Romeo Rodríguez.
This substantial allocation represents nearly 100% of the combined budgets of both institutions for the coming year. “The MOP's budget for next year is around $700 million, and more than $600 million of that will be allocated to investment projects. Additionally, a portion of these resources will be used for administrative expenses, but these are earmarked for architects and engineers who oversee and carry out construction projects, so it's not an expense but rather an investment, because without these workers, the projects couldn't be carried out,” commented Rodríguez.
One of the most significant projects for the coming year will be the Apopa bypass, which will receive an investment of $250 million and is scheduled to be tendered in the coming months.
The Kilo 5 interchange, on the road to Acajutla, is another major road project that will begin construction in 2025. This engineering work will improve the existing road at the intersection of the Coastal Highway CA02W and the Acajutla Highway CA12S (Kilo 5). The project includes improved drainage systems and natural barriers to protect against floods and extreme weather events.
The initiative will also strengthen regional integration by facilitating access to the port of Acajutla and to the borders of El Salvador and Guatemala, such as La Hachadura and San Cristóbal.
“It’s a multi-level passage that we will build in the area known as Kilo 5. In this sector, there are lines of up to 8 kilometers because drivers must cross the four-lane highway with high traffic. The idea is that with this new work, this inconvenience will be eliminated at the site; in addition, road safety is guaranteed because there have been several accidents,” Rodríguez highlighted.
Another megaproject that will be managed next year is the expansion of the Pan-American Highway with the support of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) and other financial institutions. Similarly, they will expand the Coastal Highway from the detour to Zacatecoluca to Usulután. This project is being managed with the technical and financial support of South Korea. The expansion of each artery will cost approximately $40 million.
“The president [Nayib Bukele] announced the expansion of the Pan-American Highway, and we are already working to design it. Likewise, we are working on the engineering design of the Coastal Highway with the eastern zone,” explained the minister.
A large part of the investment is also allocated to the intervention of roads and highways. For example, $110 million has already been awarded for road maintenance projects on different highways, which will begin in January 2025.
Therefore, they will reconstruct the road from Ilobasco to Sensuntepeque to complete 33 kilometers (km) to reach Cabañas; also at kilometer 18 towards Perquín, to finalize a 50 km construction project. Likewise, they will resurface the Northern Trunk Road, which leads to Chalatenango, and reconstruct the Pan-American Highway from San Martín to San Vicente.
In addition, they will intervene unpaved roads such as the street of Yayantique and Monteca, in La Unión; the street of Comalapa, in río Chiquito, Chalatenango. The Government seeks to consolidate the construction of a bypass in Zacatecoluca and reconstruct the road of the Military Route, from the exit of the bypass to La Unión.
The MOP's budget includes the construction of municipal markets, urban centers of well-being and opportunities (CUBO), the construction of the Metropolitan Park in the San Jacinto neighborhood, mitigation works, among other projects.
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