Soptravi: 47 interested in Tegucigalpa road consulting

Honduras' public works, transport and housing ministry Soptravi has announced 47 companies have expressed interest in a consulting service for a road reconstruction and improvement project in capital Tegucigalpa, Roberto Atuan, a regional World Bank (WB) official confirmed to BNamericas. Due to the large response, the short-listed companies have not yet been released but are expected in 30 days. Two lists of eight companies each will be announced, the source said. The Bank is financing the works, for which US$107mn was approved in November 2000, and include creating a model for modernizing the capital's urban transport system and a national land transport census. Works will be carried out in several phases including road reconstruction and improvements of the main corridor and in the southwestern region. The works are part of project to restore national roadways damaged by hurricane Mitch in 1998, improve trade corridors and establish a financial and institutional framework for roads. Tegucigalpa has some 1.3 million residents.