The Interoceanic Highway across southern Peru moves forward

Almost a year after they were scheduled to be announced, the final two contracts for the 2,500 kilometer Interoceanic Highway project across southern Peru were awarded last week.

When completed in 2009, the $1.3 billion project will create a paved-two lane road across southern Peru connecting to the Brazilian border at the River Acre. A paved highway already exists to that point on the Brazilian side of the border making it then possible to travel by paved road across the continent.


Work on the three major sections of the road began two years ago and presents a daunting challenge for engineers. The road reaches altitudes of almost 5,000 meters above sea level and crosses jungle regions where precipitation is measured in meters.

Peruvian officials say the road will open the region - one of the poorest in the country - to development and progress. Yet many are concerned that the road will also bring exploitive and dangerous development due to the lack of institutional controls. They fear that large agricultural and hydrocarbon interests will reap the rewards and the local populations, particularly indigenous tribes, will pay the price.


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Technorati Tags: Peru, Interoceanic Highway, environment