Twenty bridges for US$10mn

The planned 141km-road linking Guayaquil to Salinas is to be built with 20 bridges, El Comercio reported, 17 less than previously planned. The road is the main access route to the Santa Elena peninsula in Guayas province. Public works minister Estuardo Penaherrera revised the US$10mn project after making a technical visit to the area. Instead, 17 cheaper culverts will be built to handle water flow. Financing for the 20 indispensable bridges is to be provided by state development corporation Corpecuador which is responsible for reconstructing areas affected by the 1997-98 El Nino weather phenomenon. The first stage of construction will start in December near the suburb of Buenos Aires. Until the bridges are erected, the organization expects to use makeshift metal bridges to handle the traffic heading for the beaches in the coming season. Corpecuador is funded by national and international loans, government grants and other sources.