RURAL ROADS

THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR A SERIES OF FUTURE AID RURAL ROAD PROJECTS AIMED AT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TOTAL OF 1600 MI OF ROAD IN ALL 37 PROVINCES. A ROAD RATING SYSTEM DEVELOPED EARLIER BY FREDERICK R HARRIS WILL BE USED FOR THE SELECTION OF ROAD PROJECTS. THIS RATING SYSTEM USES A FORMULA WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT COST/BENEFIT & SOCIAL EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS. TO ENCOURAGE BETTER ROAD MAINTENANCE, EACH PROVINCE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A ROAD MAINTENANCE PLAN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION OR IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES MAY COMMENCE. THE LOAN WILL FUND ROAD MAINTENANCE OVER PROJECT DURATION AND WILL FINANCE A SMALL AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT FOR DISTRICT MAINTENANCE DIVISIONS SET UP BY PROJECT-FUNDED ENGINEERS. DISTRICTS WILL FURTHER BE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT INVENTORIES OF EXISTING RURAL ROADS AS A PREREQUISITE TO FUTURE FUNDING. INVENTORIES WILL BE COLLECTED & MAINTAINED BY THE GOP"S NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER. SEVERAL TYPES OF ROAD PROJECTS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN: NEW EARTHEN ROADS, IMPROVING EARTHERN ROADS TO GRAVEL/SHINGLE ROADS, IMPROVING GRAVEL/SHINGLE ROADS TO METAL ROADS, AND NEW METAL ROADS. AID WILL ALSO FINANCE SOME OF THE COST OF A REFRESHER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COUNTERPART ENGINEERS & STAFF SUPERVISORS INVOLVED WITH PROJECT EXECUTION. TRAINING PROGRAM WILL COVER ROAD SELECTION PROCEDURES, DESIGN SPECS, PLANNING & CONTRACTING, CONSTRUCTION QUALITY CONTROL, AND MAINTENANCE & ROAD INVENTORY REQUIREMENTS & PROCEDURES.