Road Corridors Program

                                PARAGUAY

SECTOR:                  Transportation

PROJECT TITLE:           Road Corridors Program
                         (DE-283/93)

TOTAL COST:              US$1,085,000

FINANCING:
      IDB                US$ 989,000
    LOCAL                US$  96,000

DATE OF APPROVAL:        December 22, 1993

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:     The purpose of this nonreimbursable technical
                         cooperation is to carry out detailed engineering
                         design and environmental impact studies for
                         preparation of a roads project on the main
                         export-oriented road corridors linking
                         Asunción with Saltos de Guairá.

                         This technical cooperation comprises the
                         following components:  (a) environmental impact
                         study and detailed engineering design for
                         improvements of a section of Route 3 from
                         Emboscada to San Estanislao, a distance of
                         approximately 112 km; and (b) an environmental
                         impact study for improvements of a section of
                         approximately 220 km on Route 10 between Tacuara
                         and Saltos de Guairá.  The engineering
                         design will constitute sufficient basis for
                         issuing the call for bids to pave the section of
                         Route 3, and the environmental studies will
                         evaluate all possible direct and indirect
                         environmental impacts and suggest detailed
                         measures for mitigating them.  The executing
                         agency of the technical cooperation will be the 
                         Roads Directorate of the Ministry of Public
                         Works and Communications.

CONSULTANTS:             A consulting firm or consortium of firms will be
                         recruited for the detailed engineering design. 
                         It is expected that about 30 staff/months of
                         consulting services will be needed to provide
                         expertise in highway engineering, soils and
                         materials engineering, hydrology and drainage
                         engineering, structural engineering, design and
                         environmental impact analysis. The environmental
                         impact studies will require about 30
                         staff/months of services by a consulting firm or
                         consortium of firms with experience in
                         environmental impact analysis, highway
                         engineering, natural resources, agronomic and
                         agricultural economics, anthropology, rural
                         sociology and water and soil engineering.  The
                         consulting firms will be selected by the
                         Ministry of Public Works and Communications
                         through international competitive bidding.

CIVIL WORKS:             Not applicable


GOODS AND EQUIPMENT:     Not applicable

EXECUTING AGENCY:        Ministerio de Obras Públicas y
                         Comunicaciones 

ADDRESS:                 Departamento de Planificacion y Proyectos
                         Direccion de Vialidad
                         Olivia y Alberdi, Edificio MOPC, Piso 2
                         Asuncion, Paraguay
                         Telephone:  (595-21) 446-709
                         Fax:        (595-21) 448-956
                         Contact:    Paul Luis Sarubli, B.
                                     Director
                                     Felix Zelaya M.
                                     Chief