Announcement of The World Bank's Help to Morocco for Road Network Improvement on June 9, 1995

The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA NEWS RELEASE B95/94/MENA CONTACT: Jeannie Yamine (202)473-2318 $57.6 MILLION WORLD BANK LOAN TO HELP MOROCCO IMPROVE ROADS NETWORK WASHINGTON, June 9, 1995- Close to half of Morocco's road network is unpaved, with many of the paved roads in need of repair. The rehabilitation of Morocco's 60,000-kilometer (37,000-mile) road network is therefore the focus of the Moroccan Government's $194.1 million Secondary, Tertiary, and Rural Roads Project. The World Bank has approved a $57.6 million loan to assist in the project, which is expected to produce savings in road transport costs and help improve the rural poor's access, especially to market and social services. The project will also strive to reduce regulatory constraints in road transport and increase the contracting out of road maintenance works and supervision, thereby accelerating private- sector development in the sector. Developing road management expertise is another objective of the project, as is improving road safety. Under the project, about 2,219 km (1,380 miles) of paved branch roads will be improved through a combination of resealing, widening works and structural overlays. A second project - JVorld Bank/Morocco Roads 1 of 2 Archives/Records Center, H 81-001 ( 1) component calls for 1,333 km (828 miles) of priority PROJECT COST unpaved rural roads to be upgraded to all-weather (USS Million) gravel standard, while an additional 96 km (60 miles) Total of paved rural roads will be built. Rural Roads 35.4 Improving network management is also part of Paved Branch Roads 108.8 the planned activities. It will be achieved through Network Management 10.3 technical support and improvement of training, among Road Safety 11.1 others. Essential road maintenance equipment will also Contingencies 28.5 be renewed under this component. TOTAL PROJECT COST 194.1 Streamlining the road safety organization will also be a focus of the project. The rapid increase in road FINANCNG PLAN fatalities has prompted officials to prepare a program of (US$ Million) institutional improvements, rehabilitation of high Total IBRD 57.6 accident areas, and preventive and enforcement measures aimed at changing driver behavior. Government 71.0 Local Governments 0.4 The loan is at the World Bank's standard OECF, Japan 62.9 variable rate, and is repayable in 20 years, including a 5- year grace period. Co-financing will be provided by Grant 2.2 Japan's Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund ($62.9 TOTAL 194.1 million) and the Government of Morocco ($71 million), with the remaining $2.2 million to be provided through as yet unspecified grants. World BankMorocco Roads 2 of 2