Geographic Focus: All participating TRACECA states

Project Budget : EURO 2,500,000

Contract awarded to : FINNROAD

Implementation timetable : October 1997 to October 1999

Background and Objectives. The previous TRACECA project for implementation of Pavement Management Systems highlighted a need for further equipment support, training and assistance in the use of the system for actual financial decisions. Several IFIs are planning major investments in roads, so the project focus is to sustain existing programmes and to encourage further IFI interest. While pavement maintenance remains the central theme of the project, road materials, the winter maintenance of roads, and institutional issues all need to be addressed and are included within this project.

Key Issues and Achievements. The project : (i) investigated the current situation of the road construction supply industry, proposed development strategies including investment recommendations, and modern standard and quality control procedures, particularly for road stone and bitumen suppliers; (ii) introduced Western concepts of Winter Maintenance Systems; (iii) provided support to the roads department of Azerbaijan for institutional reform to accompany an EBRD loan package; (iv) reinforced the introduction of PMS into the region, particularly in those countries where feasibility studies for investment bank loans have not been provided under previous assistance; and (v) carried out investigation at pre-feasibility level on the impact of new or much improved road or rail links which participating states propose in Tajikistan, the Kyrghyz Republic and Uzbekistan, particularly for links to China.
The equipment available to maintenance departments was reviewed and advice given to the selection, specification, procurement and management of mechanical equipment, on a commercial basis. A conference was held in Tashkent in September 1997 for senior officials and technical experts from the Kyrghyz Republic and Uzbekistan, as well as from the ADB, EBRD, UN and China, to generate a close understanding between the project consultant, local authorities and eventual investors on the aims and objectives for the project module concerning links to China. Recommendations for the materials supply sector were formulated. Module E "Pre-feasibility Studies" let to a EC National project in Kyrghyzstan for rehabilitation of Corridor Uzbekistan - Kyrghyzstan - China started in January 2000.