The El Sillar Highway.
Following a temporary acceptance by Bolivia's National Road Administration Bureau, the El Sillar Highway Project, the largest ongoing road construction project in Bolivia, recently fully opened to traffic. It was built by POWERCHINA.
Luis Arce, president of Bolivia, shared the significant moment on his social media, expressing high hopes and praising for the highway.
He said that the El Sillar Highway is a crucial expressway connecting Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, serving as an integral part of Bolivia's East-West Biological Ocean Corridor.
Its completion will facilitate commercial exchanges between the country's eastern and western regions, revive tourism in the tropical region of Cochabamba and the province of Santa Cruz, reduce transportation and agricultural production costs, and serve as a significant milestone in Bolivia's construction of roads.
The El Sillar Highway Project winds its way through the Andes Mountains, serving as a crucial part of National Route 4, which connects Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, two major Bolivian cities.
The highway spans a total length of 30.3 kilometers, with the road surface 20.6 meters wide. The highway features four separate tunnels, 17 bridges, 6.1 kilometers of reinforced concrete retaining walls, 21,000 meters of anti-slide piles, and 139 culverts.
Since the commencement of the project, POWERCHINA has overcome challenges such as frequent geological disasters and a unique climate. Through scientific organization, meticulous construction methods, rigorous management and advanced technology, POWERCHINA managed to successfully complete the highway.
During its construction, the project obtained a total of nine national utility model patents, nine provincial-level construction methods, four national and provincial-level QC (Quality Control) achievements, and 13 awards for technological progress from POWERCHINA.
The project has not only brought new equipment and technology to the local area, but also introduced some advanced management concepts. It has strengthened Bolivia's construction and engineering know-how and nurtured a large number of local professional engineers, technicians, and equipment operators, helping promote local economic and social development.
The opening of the El Sillar Highway is the result of joint efforts between Chinese and Bolivian people, serving as a testament to the two country's cooperation and development. It will drive economic exchanges between Bolivia and neighboring countries, enhance regional connectivity, and inject new vitality into the economic development of Bolivia and the entire South American region.
