Republic of Tunisia
| Loan No: | 561 | Interest Rate: | 3.0 % |
| Beneficiary: | Tunisie Autoroutes | Grace Period: | 5 years |
| Project Cost: | KD 72.8 million | Maturity: | 22 years |
| Amount of Loan: | KD 38.0 million | Repayment: | 35 semi-annual installments |
| Date of Board Approval: | - | First Installment: | 5 years following the first disbursement |
| Date of Loan Agreement: | 2011-05-09 | Date of Loan Effectiveness: | - |
Objectives:
The project aims at improving land transportation services on the road network in Tunisia to accommodate the rapidly growing road traffic and reduce traffic accidents. The project also contributes to the economic and social development of the north western region of Tunisia. The Project will develop road linkage with the neighboring Arab Maghreb countries, as it is a part of the Arab Maghreb Motorway.
Description:
The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2014, comprises the construction of Oued Zarga – Bousalem Motorway. The total length of this motorway is approximately 54 km, and consists of 4 lanes, 2 in each direction with a width of 7 m, a median with a width of 12 m, and shoulders with a width of 3 m. The project is the second part of the motorway that will link Tunis, the Capital, with the Algerian border, which the Arab Fund contributed to the financing of its first part (Tunis – Mejez El Bab -Oued Zarga Motorway) with loan No. 405. The project also includes the execution of 3 links with a total length of about 16 km. The project consists of the following components:
- Civil Works:This includes all works related to the construction of the motorway and the links, drainage works, construction of over-passes, under-passes, interchanges and culverts, as well as building of toll stations, in addition to all works related to traffic safety.
- Equipment and Devices: This includes procurement and installation of equipment and devices required for the toll stations.
- Project Execution Supervision: This includes setting up a project implementation unit to manage the project and supervise its execution. It also includes the provision of consultancy services to assist that unit in supervising the execution of the project and reviewing the designs.
- Land Expropriation: This includes acquisition of land required for the execution of the project, in addition to extending and restoring the utility networks affected by the project such as electricity, telephone and water networks.
Financing:
The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 52% of the total project cost. The Tunisian Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.