Evaluation of Honduras rural road work : volume I

The impact of the earliest roads was nearly impossible to measure because most of these had since been rehabilitated or reconstructed. The principal target of the impact measurement was the Rural Trails and Access Roads project, new enough to be remembered, yet completed with sufficient time for impacts to be evident. Inspections of some Rural Roads II project and some roads built by other institutions were also conducted. In general, the roads were properly constructed. Some faults were found with lack of completion of some elements in Rural Trails and Access Roads; supervision had improved by the time of the Rural Roads II Project and the contractors finished their work. There were some design problems, mainly on roads subject to flooding; the roadbeds were not high enough to overcome the problem. A few created dams which increased the flooded areas. Probably the major weakness in both projects was that on some roads insufficient select material had been used on the surface, while on others the surface had not been properly compacted. Lack of proper maintenance is a major problem. maintenance offices have nearly no equipment, small budgets, and insufficient personnel to effect the routine repairs necessary to prolong the life of the roads. The national maintenance office has experienced reduced budgets the last 2 years while more and more roads were being built. The problem is a serious one that must be faced if A.I.D. is to protect its investment. Economic benefits were studied via two main approaches: from the view of the beneficiaries, and through two special studies of a macro nature. The beneficiaries engaged in agriculture, shrimp, salt, transportation, and commerce had reaped unusually high benefits from the roads. First, the roads opened areas so that more land is devoted to crops and livestock, and to the shrimp and salt enterprises. Second, the opening of the roads was quickly followed by many TA services and these further spurred development and stimulated many small businesses. Transportation services improved markedly, growing from horses to modern buses and trucks, all operating profitably in the new areas. That, in turn, brought still another benefit to communities - additional opportunities to associate with other people, to bring in their supplies at lower cost, and to haul their produce to better and farther markets. In the Northwest Region, the effects of the development after road construction are greater than the sum of the beneficiary effects. Commerce, interregional transportation, credit institutions, and many other services are considerably enhanced. That is, there is a benefit beyond the farmers and their families; the impact spreads to a series of businesses that are spawned or operate at a higher level. Beneficiaries reported more primary schools, more children enrolled in school, and more youths traveling to other towns where secondary education was available. Some adult education has now reached the communities as well. Health benefits were equally evident. More rural clinics had been built, nutrition was being taught in some communities, travel to hospitals and other health facilities was easier. Some organizations had entered many communities and were helping with the construction of latrines and potable water systems. More needs to be done in health but a substantial beginning has been made. (Author abstract, modified)