Project profile — Les Cayes-Jérémie Road

This project is part of the Inter-American Development Bank's Road Infrastructure Rehabilitation Program in Haiti. CIDA's contribution supports the construction of a road connecting the cities of Jeremie and Les Cayes, in the southwestern region of the country. This project enables the government to offer faster and more efficient services to the people of the region. The project also aims to create jobs and make the region more competitive by facilitating the transport of an increased volume of merchandise and passengers. The project consists of constructing and rehabilitating 92 km of road, including paving, drainage, and signage. Although delayed by the January 12, 2010 earthquake and other natural disasters, construction and rehabilitation work continues.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) increased competiveness of two regions; (2) Increased employability; (3) Increased volume of goods transported between Jérémie and Les Cayes; and (4) an operational road maintenance program.

Results achieved as of the end of the project include: (1) 60% of overall road construction work has been completed. Two lanes are now open for nearly 70% of the route, allowing for continuous traffic flow and facilitating the transport of people and goods; (2) the average travel time between Les Cayes and Jérémie has decreased from eight hours to less than three hours; (3) a total of 745 local jobs, including nearly 80 for women, have been created; (4) road improvements have led to an increase in medical check-ups for residents in the department of Grande Anse, who now receive visits every two or three weeks instead of monthly; and (5) these results are contributing to economic and social benefits for the more than 1 million people who lives in the Southern and Grande Anse departments. For example, people have better access to services, there is improved market competitiveness in the region as a result of reduced travel times, and fewer losses of life and goods due to poor road conditions.