By Xinhua
Lima (Peru) : Bolivia, Brazil and Chile have signed an agreement to connect the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east of South America by a road link running across the entire breadth of the continent.
The agreement was signed by the presidents of the three countries Sunday at Bolivia’s government seat, the Quemado Palace.
The road link will become operational in 2009.
The Bolivian stretch of the road totals 1,600 km, 75 percent of which is ready for use. The three unfinished parts that link Santa Cruz to Puerto Suarez, Oruro to Pisiga, and Santa Matias to Concepcion require $415 million, $78 million and $260 million in investment respectively.
In Chile, two projects are at planning stage – a 192-km road starting in Arica and another 216-km stretch linking Iquique to Chile’s eastern border with Bolivia.
Brazil will invest nearly $133 million refurbishing a stretch of highway that is already in use. A total of 2,225 km of existing roads will be used as part of this corridor.
“I feel that this road is a vital artery” that allows integration of towns in Chile, Bolivia and Brazil, Bolivian President Evo Morales said at the signing ceremony.
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet described the new link as a dynamic stream that “allows free flow of people and growing equality” among the countries.