Ma"an - Quweira highway

Final PES covers the period 4/75-3/81; no methodology is specified. A 73.65 km highway was constructed from the township of Ma"an to the junction of the Amman-Aqaba road and the road to the vilage of Rum, replacing a 75.7 km road which had been built in 1963. The new highway has reduced the cost of road transportation between Aqaba and urban centers to the north and has contributed to more efficient import and export operations. The volume of traffic and trade along the road increased beyond expectations due to the rapid growth of the Jordanian economy. Savings in vehicle operating costs and drivers" wages were almost three times the forecasted amount, but rapid deterioration of road segments, the result of ineffectual control of vehicle weights and loads, has become a major concern. Small villages along the old road stand to lose business from the new road alignment, but other villages, closer to the new road, are likely to benefit; a new experimental farm has already been constructed along the new route. Problems with contractual procedures and the general contracting environment in Jordan resulted in a 745-day construction overrun. The Jordanian government (GOJ) is committed to overcoming deficiencies in this area, and has asked A.I.D. to finance technical assistance on contracting procedures. Key lessons learned were that construction contracts should include price escalation clauses, especially for major materials; prospective contractors" financial, managerial, and technical capabilities should be analyzed in relation to the expected work load; separate unit prices for rock excavation should be set when data on underground conditions are incomplete; and vehicle weights and loads should be controlled. Recommendations are to: (1) support GOJ initiatives to revise contracting practices; (2) encourage effective implementation of highway use laws; (3) monitor progress in repairing deteriorated highway segments; (4) investigate with AID/W the appropriateness of the 15% withheld from GOJ claims for depreciation, and based on the response, determine the need to extend the project; and (4) discuss with GOJ road maintenance and axle load issues pertinent to establishing a weighing station.