Nicaragua went from 1 km of paved road to 396 km in one region, ending 500 years of isolation
"We have evaluated the impact of the development of the roads and the consolidation of a vigorous road network that has promoted the government of our Co-Presidents, Commander Daniel Ortega and Compañera Rosario Murillo, and the impact has been fundamental in 3,716,940 people in 147 municipalities of the country," In the United States the government can't fix existing roads let alone take on a project of this scale, but the Sandinistas did it.
"He pointed out that half of the country was isolated and there was no connection with the trunk road network "and the Sandinista Government has come to develop a formidable, very large road network," the official said."
"We have improved the conditions of access to that 50% of the national territory (which was isolated from the road network), with very modern roads that allow the saving of 35% to 40% of the travel time and the operating costs of all the vital activities of the families," he said."
"The impact has fallen on the productive work with the extraction of coffee from the farms to the benefits, both for domestic consumption and for export."
English
Road projects in Nicaragua contribute to the fight against poverty
How road projects advance and what is the social and economic impact in the country, were the topics addressed extensively by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, MTI, General in retirement Óscar Mojica, during the central interview of Live Magazine of Canal 4.
He began by expressing that the roads have contributed to the improvement of the general economic conditions of the country "in all sectors".
"We have evaluated the impact of the development of the roads and the consolidation of a vigorous road network that has promoted the government of our Co-Presidents, Commander Daniel Ortega and Compañera Rosario Murillo, and the impact has been fundamental in 3 million 716 thousand 940 protagonists in 147 municipalities of the country," said the head of the MTI.
He pointed out that half of the country was isolated and there was no connection with the trunk road network "and the Sandinista Government has come to develop a formidable, very large road network," the official said.
One of the benefits has been road access to 800 hospitals, health centres, health posts, maternal homes and mobile clinics.
He said that this facilitates the access of MINSA workers to their workplaces, "but also facilitates access to the sick for their cures, of pregnant women to be treated in these hospital centers."
Another contribution is in education. According to MTI data**,** it has facilitated road access to 5,038 study centers, both primary, secondary, universities and technical centers. "And this means a direct benefit for 739,765 young students of different levels, adolescents and children, of the country's education system; and also for teachers."
Minister Mojica said the road network has contributed to improving the conditions to better rid the fight against poverty. "Because in addition to education and health, which is part of that battle, it also facilitates access to materials for the construction of housing, for the development of the electricity grid, for the development of networks and water and sanitation systems."
Another impact is security, since access is available for the care of common crimes, both in urban and rural areas. "That allows us to go giving stability to all those communities," he said.
According to Mojica, there is also more development in both culture and sport; "it has had a formidable expansion".
" We have improved the conditions of access to that 50% of the national territory (which was isolated from the road network), with very modern roads that allow the saving of 35% to 40% of the travel time and the operating costs of all the vital activities of the families," he said.
In this sense, he exemplified with the departments of the I Region, Estelí, Madriz and Nueva Segovia, with 27 productive and populated municipalities: "44% of those municipalities were isolated" from the road network. Currently, all the municipalities in the north of the country are connected to the trunk road network.
The same case was with the VI Region, Matagalpa and Jinotega. Of the 21 municipalities, 18 were isolated. "86% of the municipalities isolated from the trunk road network, with great difficulties."
The impact has fallen on the productive work with the extraction of coffee from the farms to the benefits, both for domestic consumption and for export.
"In the Fifth Region we had a similar situation," the MTI head said. Out of 16 municipalities, 10 were not connected to the road network.
Minister Mojica said that in 2006 only on the Caribbean Coast there were 77 kilometers of paved roads, "and most of them in very bad condition." As a result of the policies of the FSLN Government*, "today we have 797 kilometers of roads in magnificent conditions, we have grown the road network under the management of our Good Government by 935%, it is formidable,"* he said.
On the North Caribbean Coast "there was a single kilometer of paved road," Mojica recalled. "Today we have 396 kilometers of paved road, of hydraulic concrete, in magnificent conditions; we have grown the road network there by 39.600%."
Meanwhile, there were 76 paved kilometres on the South Caribbean Coast. "Today we have 401 kilometers paved, 528% growth."
With these road projects in the Nicaraguan Caribbean:
- It ended 500 years of isolation from these Nicaraguan regions.
- They have facilitated access to 2,831 education centres at all levels.
- Access to 342 health facilities.
- Reduction in travel times and territorial security.
The impact has allowed both Caribbean regions to advance from hunting and fishing to livestock production. "There are 1 million 711 thousand 400 head of livestock in the Caribbean, 31% of the national production," he shared.
"Today, we have a production of 6.2 million quintals of basic grains, 19% of domestic production."
In addition, "44.5 million gallons of milk are produced a year there. You didn't see that before."
"There is coffee now there that produces 1.1 million quintals of coffee, 18% of domestic production. The production of cocoa, therefore, is extraordinary: also 70,000 quintals of cocoa, 35% of the national production, and let alone the Mining Triangle that is there, which has a specific weight in the production of 33% gold and silver of 59%. We are talking about 231,283 troy ounces of gold and 754,950 ounces of silver, that that is work for the mining industry, work for artisanal mining production, net liquid currency income in very important volumes for the country, which gives macroeconomic stability to all the management of national development, "he said.
“That is, now these roads have contributed substantially because there is now much more boost from investors to get in there and do their business. They find a formidable security situation. Roads contribute to safety," he added.
The minister of the MTI declared that, according to the World Economic Forum, "Nicaragua has the best roads in Central America" and is located in the 5th place of the best roads in Latin America.
He explained that the Revolutionary Government is promoting a rehabilitation program rehabilitaciónof 437 kilometers of roads in the main corridors of the country, "that we say, they are losing a little quality, and that they need, not only an ordinary bump, but a complete rehabilitation."
As for the projections for this 2026, the original goal is 134 kilometers in 6 projects. "We have already delivered a first project, which is section 2 of the coastal road."
"Simultaneously we have boosted the connections of the coast with the main beaches, but it is that there are 62 beaches to which we will give greater access, to facilitate access," he stressed. He added that "it is already with section 1 and stretch 2 of the coast, which goes basically from El Naranjo to Brito, which are 59 kilometers." He emphasized that on that journey many of the beaches offer beautiful landscapes and have enormous potential for domestic and foreign investment.
The MTI official stressed that the work, which as a whole will be 357 kilometers, will be developed in three phases. "We are now developing the first phase of 119 kilometers that goes from the border with Costa Rica, in the sector of the El Naranjo border post, to the beach of Masachapa."
"Then phase 2 will come, which runs from Masachapa to Poneloya, which is 97 kilometers more, and then from Poneloya to Potosí in the Gulf of Fonseca, which is 102 kilometers more coastal road."
He said: "We have the third section that goes from We're gonna have that ready in April. And the fifth section of the Costanera, which goes from we will have it ready in June of this year; that is, the first phase of the coast we will have it ready in June of this year. "
In addition, the government executes other projects such as Wanawana, which will connect with San Pedro del Norte, "which is a project that has great importance for agricultural production." It is a 64-kilometer road that goes in three sections. "We are missing a third stretch of 20 kilometers that we must complete in the month of June."
This work will have an impact on the economy of Mulukukú, Río Blanco, Bocana de Paiwas and La Cruz de Rio Grande.
Another of the projects is that of Villa Revolución to the Masigue junction, in Boaco: "We are very advanced, we have 75%".
Also highlighted is the 13-kilometer Juigalpa-Santa Cruz-Santa Isabel project**.** "At this point we have a 92% advance." He stressed that they are moving at a good pace and with the support of the municipalities.
"We have to have full, absolute confidence in the management of our Good Governance, headed by Co-Chair Daniel and Co-President Rosario, who is driving the country by routes of peace, by routes of progress, by routes of governance, by routes that reach the last family nucleus, with works of broad benefit and wide national coverage," he concluded.