Dry Corridor construction work completed to facilitate the connection between the Honduran Pacific and Atlantic coasts

By Bufete Mejía & Asociados

The Villa de San Antonio - Goascorán Logistics Corridor in Honduras is an integrationist initiative that, since its inception, has been supported by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).

The total project, including the three sections, has a physical progress of 99%. In July 2019, the construction of sections II and III was concluded; while section I, is composed of subsections IA, concluded in December 2014, and IB, which is being concluded to complete the 95.87 km of four-lane roadway that covers this corridor.

CABEI Executive President, Dr. Dante Mossi, emphasized: "The Dry Corridor is one of the most emblematic works for CABEI and the region, as it allows for significant savings for the population and the countries that will use the project, in addition to the road infrastructure projects that have been financed by the Bank to improve the quality of life of Hondurans and the competitiveness of the countries."

Section I (subsections IA and IB), from the Comayagua valley to San Juan de la Paz (49.63 km); section II, ends at the intersection of the San Juan river, over the San Juan II bridge (17.14 km); section III, follows parallel to the Goascorán river route until reaching CA1 (29.10 km).

CABEI's sovereign public sector manager, Manuel Torres, explained: "the last segment of the Dry Corridor is already in service and cuts approximately 100 km from El Amatillo to the Comayagua Valley, which will reduce costs and time and make exports more competitive, not only for Honduras, but for the entire Central American region that uses Puerto Cortés."

"This corridor was designed as an alternative to the Panama Canal for handling smaller cargo volumes and connects Puerto Cortés with the southern part of the country, connecting to El Salvador through the El Amatillo customs office and to Nicaragua through the Guasaule customs office," explained the director of the Honduran government's executing unit (Invest-H), Ester Alemán.

 Alemán, from the executing unit, added that "having CABEI as an ally in these projects is relevant to have the necessary resources for the required investments, bringing benefits to the users".

CABEI has contributed to the construction of the Dry Corridor by financing US$328.5 million of the estimated US$406.8 million cost of the project.