August 19, 2022
The Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, accompanied by the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Rosemond Pradel, proceeded to the inauguration of the temporary bridge over the Grand’Anse river. This work financed by the World Bank to the tune of three million USD restores the connection between the department of Grand’Anse and the rest of the country.
“The construction of this bridge reflects the government’s commitment to set up the road network and thus connect the country’s ten departments, in particular through the construction and renovation of roadways and engineering structures – bridges, culverts, support – throughout the national territory, ” said Rosemond Pradel, Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications . “Beyond the main axes, the Ministry of Public Works pays particular attention to the rehabilitation of secondary roads with a view to reviving the peasant economy. »
This bridge measuring approximately 70 meters long and 10.5 meters wide, including two pedestrian crossings, and erected on pillars in a deep foundation will allow the population of the department of Grand’Anse, estimated at more than 460,000, to reconnect with long distance exchanges, whatever the weather conditions. Indeed, following the earthquake of August 14, 2021, and the closure of the Dumarsais Estimé bridge, users of national road no. 7 had to face the Grand’Anse river to reach the town of Jérémie, which was almost not possible during floods.
“The commissioning of this bridge underscores the importance that the World Bank places on the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged during the August 2021 earthquake. More generally, Haiti’s resilience to disaster risks that are increasing in frequency and in seriousness with climate change is one of the fundamental pillars of the World Bank’s program”, said Laurent Msellati, head of operations of the World Bank in Haiti. . “Natural disasters, whether of a climatic or seismic nature, constitute a major threat to Haiti and are one of the main factors of the fragility of the economy. Haiti must have a culture of disaster risk management and continue to invest in this area with the help of the many development partners involved in these programs. »
After the earthquake, the World Bank allocated an envelope of 194 million dollars to support the response of the Haitian government, with in particular 50 million USD for the rehabilitation of the lines of communication whose losses and damages were evaluated at a little more than 151 million USD in the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). These emergency funds complement two projects for the development of the Haitian road network financed by the World Bank totaling an investment of 258 million USD.
In recent years, World Bank financing has enabled the Haitian government to strengthen and rehabilitate some 30 major road infrastructures, and to build or repair 210 small bridges, culverts and road segments in the various departments of the country. .