Ecuador to invest US$5 billion in super-highways road projects

The 5449 Ecuador Ministry of Transport and Public Works says it will invest around US$5 billion up to 2014 to turn 1,286km of roads into super-highways, to help development of its tourism, farming and agricultural sectors. A first stage will see the firm Consultora de Ingenieria, Estudios y Perforaciones de Suelos (Cieper) undertaking the definitive traffic studies, as well as the engineering and environmental impact studies for the Santo Domingo-Quevedo road, located between the Los Rios and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas provinces. In this stage, an investment of USD 2.2mn will be made and it will incorporate 125km of roads. A second stage will involve the expansion of roads to four and six lanes, which will facilitate fast traffic flow and links with the main cities in the country.