Bolivia marks a significant achievement with Sinohydro’s provisional completion of the El Sillar dual carriageway.
This road costs about $420 million and is integral to the East-West Bioceanic Corridor.
It connects Cochabamba to Santa Cruz and expands Bolivia’s access to Brazil, Chile, and Peru, enhancing regional connections.
President Luis Arce announced the road’s completion, overcoming pandemic-related challenges.
The government covered 60% of the project’s cost, ensuring its timely completion.
Spanning 29.14 kilometers, El Sillar features four tunnels, nine bridges, and eight viaducts.
Its 20.60-meter width, with two lanes each way and an extra uphill lane, facilitates smoother travel.
Marcel Claure, ABC’s head, expressed gratitude for the local community’s support. Started in 2018, the project overcame initial setbacks, surpassing its November 2021 deadline.
Public Works Minister Edgar Montaño underscored the road’s economic impact.
It cuts travel time and costs, benefiting transporters and farmers, and symbolizes Bolivia’s engineering capability.
Background
The East-West Bioceanic Corridor, linking the Atlantic and Pacific through Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru, is transformative for South America.
It offers Bolivia, a landlocked country, vital seaport access, enhancing its trade role.
Historically, Bolivia’s pursuit of sea access has been a strategic goal since losing its coastline.
The Bioceanic Corridor indirectly fulfills this goal, positioning Bolivia as a key transit hub.
Compared to other regional projects, the corridor is unique in reducing transit times and costs.
It marks a historic step in Bolivia and South America’s development, reflecting resilience and a commitment to economic integration.