This controversial transcontinental road project threatens the environment and indigenous communities in both Peru and Brazil.
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Peru
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| Status |
Active
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The Trans-Oceanic Highway (also known as “inter-oceanic” or “bi-oceanic” highway) is one of the key projects of the Peru-Brazil-Bolivia axis of the IIRSA (South American Regional Infrastructure) initiative. The project entails the construction and renovation of a total of 2603 kilometers of roads connecting the Amazonian state of Acre, Brazil with the port cities of Ilo, Matarani and San Juan de Marcona in the southern coast of Peru. The Brazilian section of the highway has been partially built. Roads BR-364 and BR-317 have been paved from the Brazilian cities of Porto Velho and Rio Branco to Iñapari on the border with Peru. For this reason, the Trans-Oceanic Highway is generally discussed as a renovation and improvement project of three routes that connect the Peruvian-Brazilian border with the Peruvian coast.
According to proponents, the construction of the Trans-Oceanic Highway will facilitate the transfer of Brazilian goods to the Pacific coast (and to Asian markets), and of Asian products to the Atlantic coast (and to US, European, and Brazilian markets). Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo has stated that the Highway will expand access for Peruvian products in Brazilian markets, resulting in an annual increase of 1.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product.
The Brazilian side has a more complete network of roads. In Brazil, investments center on the construction of an international bridge over the Acre River and a more efficient border crossing. On the Peruvian side, works include the construction of a paved road covering the existing route between the Inambari River and the border with Brazil, as well as the renovation and/or improvement of three paved roads that cross the Andes to connect with the ports of San Juan de Marcona, Matarani and Ilo in the southern coast of Peru.
For Peru, the project entails the construction and renovation of a total of 2586 kilometers of highway, plus approximately 17 kilometers of urban roads (not including the Juliaca urban area). In order to facilitate implementation of the necessary works, the project is divided into five stretches
1) San Juan de Marcona-Urcos,
2) Urcos-Inambari
3) Inambari-Iñapari
4) Inambari-Azángaro
5) Ilo-Juliaca; Matarani-Azángaro; Puente Gallatini-Humajalso
Construction of approximately 22 bridges –including the President Guillermo Billinghurst Bridge—at various points throughout the axis roads serves to complement the renovation of the Trans-Oceanic Highway. The Billinghurst Bridge will cross the Madre de Dios River just a few meters distance from Puerto Maldonado, the Madre de Dios department’s main city. The bridge will be 722 meters long and will display a hanging structure of 528 meters. PROVIAS NACIONAL is in charge of conducting the feasibility study of this part of the project, which will require an investment of approximately US$22 million.
If you would like further details on this project and projects that IIRSA comprises and civil society's response, visit the webpage of our BICECA project-- Building Informed Civic Awareness for Advocacy and Conservation of the Andean Amazon.