RURAL ROADS

Project consists of two subprojects. Subproject one is designed to improve 1,400 km of farm-to-market roads in the Departments of Cordillera, Guaira, Caaguazu, and Paraguari, the departments with the largest concentration of small farmers. The Ministry of Public Works and Communications will implement the subproject with USAID-funded technical and commodity assistance. Management of the subproject will be by Caminos Vecinales, a new unit created expressly for this subproject (cf. subproject two). A total of 1,400 km of roads will be improved. The road surface will be 6 m wide at the shoulder points with normal ditches averaging 50 cm deep below the shoulder points. Rights of way will be 20 m wide. Horizontal and vertical alignments will follow accepted GOP criteria for minimum radii of curves and maximum gradients. Bridges will be built to carry gross loads of 20 short tons in accordance with local criteria. Roads will follow the natural terrain when possible; cut and fill sections will be kept to a minimum. Where changes in alignment result in less expensive construction or much improved access, surveys will be conducted to realign the road and control the new construction. Drainage works under consideration will consist of standard and special side ditches with culverts and bridges as needed. Culverts will be either locally manufactured reinforced concrete pipes or field-constructed small box culverts of brick, stone masonry, or durable wood and will have masonry headwalls. Small bridges with one-lane wooden decks will be constructed as a customary community contribution. Generally, the bridges will have timber abutments and pile supports, although they may be of masonry in certain areas. To keep roads intact during the rainy season, all gravel and dirt roads will be closed to traffic during this time and will be monitored by farmers living near the roads" ends. Minor road repairs will be performed by communities and major repairs by CV. Road construction equipment will be maintained by mobile and area shops.