U.S. and Bolivian Governments Inaugurate Tunnel Illumination Project on Cochabamba - Santa Cruz Road

Cochabamba. May 16, 2007 - Within the framework of a development cooperation program for the Tropics of Cochabamba, the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, and the Ambassador of the United States in Bolivia, Philip S. Goldberg, inaugurated on Thursday May 10, an illumination system for two tunnels on the Cochabamba - Santa Cruz highway, the most important road in the country.
The project, inaugurated in a ceremony that took place between kilometers 86 and 88 of the Cochabamba - Santa Cruz highway, improves the infrastructure and allows agricultural producers to reach their markets more rapidly.
The U.S. Government supports the efforts of Bolivians to expand economic opportunities, to improve the competitiveness of agricultural products from the Tropics of Cochabamba and to promote the growth of tourism in the region.
“Roads are the main infrastructure needed to develop a region, because they make communication between towns possible, promote production and trade, and provide access to healthcare and education services,” said U.S. Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg, as he underscored the importance of this new project of the U.S. cooperation program.
The United States invested $165,000 in the tunnel illumination systems on a high-traffic section of the Cochabamba - Santa Cruz highway.
It is estimated that approximately 300,000 vehicles use this route per year and that they transport more than 3 million tons of products towards domestic and foreign markets.
The project is part of a program of U.S. cooperation to Bolivia estimated at more than $110 million per year. This cooperation is provided to create better living conditions for Bolivians, to develop economic opportunities and greater incomes, as well as to support social inclusion and citizen participation processes.