Monthly Progress Report: Ramallah-Rafat (Southern Entrance) Road

The project aims to improve road infrastructure by rehabilitating and improving sections of a main urban/rural road at the southern entrance to the City of Ramallah. The project serves sixteen local communities beyond Rafat village in addition to all diplomatic cars passing through Al Jeb Checkpoint located near Rafat village. The project involves the reconstruction of 1.7 km of the Ramallah-Rafat southern entrance, including the construction of a two-lane road with shoulders and sidewalks, drainage system upgrades, retaining structures, and required roadway accessories. Additionally, 0.5 km of four-lane divided road with sidewalks and landscaping in Ramallah will be milled and overlaid. The project is being implemented by Saqqa and Khoudary Co. Ltd. (SAK) as the contractor, with Black and Veatch (BV) serving as the Construction Management Contractor (CMC). The project has made significant progress, with a contract elapsed time of 95.16% as of May 31, 2016. However, the actual percentage of completion is 80.50%, indicating a slight delay in the project schedule. The project is expected to be completed by June 12, 2016, with a modified completion date approved by USAID. Safety is a top priority for the project, with Saqqa and Khoudary Company implementing a comprehensive safety plan to achieve the goal of "Zero Losses." The safety plan incorporates quality, production, efficiency, and safety as equal priorities in the execution of the project. An updated safety plan for April 2016 was submitted to CMC on May 9, 2016, and was accepted on May 23, 2016. All safety measures were taken into consideration to keep the site safe during construction works. The project has also made significant progress in terms of community outreach and gender consideration. The project serves sixteen local communities, and women-headed households have shown higher adoption rates for all practices except mechanical land preparation. The project has also implemented measures to ensure that women are involved in the decision-making process and are provided with equal opportunities for employment. In terms of procurement, the project has made significant progress, with over $2.7 million worth of materials and equipment delivered to the site. The project has also implemented measures to ensure that all procurement activities are in compliance with USAID regulations and guidelines. Overall, the Ramallah-Rafat (Southern Entrance) Road rehabilitation project is making significant progress, with a focus on safety, community outreach, and gender consideration. The project is expected to be completed by June 12, 2016, and will provide significant benefits to the local communities and the Palestinian economy. The project has also implemented measures to ensure that all construction activities are in compliance with environmental regulations and guidelines. The project has conducted regular environmental monitoring and has implemented measures to minimize the impact of construction activities on the environment. In terms of project indicators, the project has made significant progress in terms of roads sector task order contract indicator 1, with over 2.2 km of transportation infrastructure constructed or repaired through USG assistance. The project has also generated over 10,000 person-days of employment, exceeding the target of 8,000 person-days. Overall, the Ramallah-Rafat (Southern Entrance) Road rehabilitation project is a significant undertaking that will provide significant benefits to the local communities and the Palestinian economy. The project has made significant progress, with a focus on safety, community outreach, and gender consideration.