Announcement of World Bank Loan to Assist Fourth Highway Project in Tunisia on May 15, 1980

: HOLD FOR R!lE~SE -' , I • -World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washin~,ton, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.• Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 80/90 May 15, 1980 WORLD BANK LOAN TO ASSIST FOURTH HIGHWAY PROJECT IN TUNISIA Tunisia's efforts to improve the management of the Tunisian highway network will be assisted by a $36.5 million loan from the World Bank. The $92. l mill ion project is designed to halt the deterioration of the highway network and improve its quality through meeting a backlog of rehabilitation needs and increasing the quality and efficiency of main- • tenance operations. The project also has an important institution building impact through provision of training and technical assistance to the highway department. The project will cover a three-year period of a six-year program to improve highway maintenance and road rehabilitation. It will also cover the training of highway department staff, and the provision of traffic signs and laboratory and traffic survey equipment. Technical assistance to the highway department will help project monitoring and evaluation as well as highway investment planning and will help in the preparation of annual work programs and future rural roads pr~ject. The World Bank loan to Tunisia is for 17 years, including 4 years of grace, at 8.25% interest per annum . • NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents. FORM NO. 1121 (5-76) T ECHN I CAL D A T A PROJECT: COUNTRY: TOTAL COST: Fourth Highway Republic of Tunisia $92. 1 mi 11 ion • BANK FINANCING: $36.5 million, for a term of 17 years, including 4 years of grace, at 8.25% interest per annum OTHER FINANCING: Government of Tunisia, $46.6 mill ion Export credits, $9.0 million (expected) IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: Highway Department (Direction des Pants et Chaussees) Ministry of Equipment Cite Jardin Tunis, Tunisia Telex: 12428 TPH PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project will consist of: (i) a three-year slice (1981-83) of a six-year program for improving highway maintenance and road rehabilitation; (ii) training of highway department staff; (iii} provision of traffic signs and laboratory and traffic survey equipment; and (iv) technical assistance for project monitoring and evaluation, overall highway • investment planning, and preparation of annual work programs. PROCUREMENT: Civil works, laboratory workshop, and Bank-financed maintenance equipment contracts will be awarded on the basis of international competitive bidding in accordance with Bank procurement guidelines, except for highly specialized road evaluation equipment which will be procured through negotiated contracts for purposes of standardization. Other road maintenance equipment will be procured on the basis of export ~redits. CONSULTANTS: About 120 man-months for consulting services for: 1) project monitoring and evaluation; 2) studies on road maintenance; 3) studies and detailed engineering for the second and third year's rehabilitation program; and 4) preparing detailed engineering for about l ,000 km of rural road sections. ECONOMIC RATE OF RETURN: 80% ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1984 - 0 - •