OREANDA-NEWS. March 23, 2012. The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a loan and credit in the total amount of USD 70 million to Georgia for the Second Secondary and Local Roads Project (SLRP II). The project builds on the ongoing Secondary and Local Roads Project (SLRP) and complements other projects funded by the Bank in the road sector, reported the press-centre of World Bank.

“This project will improve local road connections and reduce transport costs for citizens using the rehabilitated roads. This will help spur economic growth and rural development. It will also help create much needed temporary employment in rural areas,” said Asad Alam, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus.
 
The Project has two components: i) rehabilitation and improvement of selected secondary and local roads; and ii) institutional strengthening.
 
Under the first component, various secondary and local roads throughout the country will be rehabilitated. The Government has identified 19 road sections with a total length of about 225 km for the first two years of project implementation. The first year program will include at least six road sections, with a total length of about 61 km. The second component will help provide advisory services for strengthening the capacity of the Roads Department in identifying, developing, and implementing road safety measures on secondary and local roads, and carrying out project impact evaluation.
 
The direct project beneficiaries are the residents of the villages along the road sections to be rehabilitated and improved. The number of residents is estimated to be 150,300. Additional beneficiaries would be all road users from different parts of the country. Temporary employment to be created is calculated at 12,000 person months.

“This project also introduces more efficient rehabilitation and maintenance contracting methods, which would help ensure better road maintenance over time,” said Joseph Melitauri, Task Team Leader for the Second Secondary and Local Roads Project.
 
Ongoing Road Projects in Georgia total USD 440 million. Since 1992, World Bank commitments to Georgia total approximately USD 1.62 billion for 52 projects.