LINKING THE AMERICAS--PROGRESS AND PROBLEMS OF THE DARIEN GAP HIGHWAY--REPORT TO CONGRESS

Progress toward building a road through the Darien Gap, the final link in the Pan American Highway, is behind schedule and exceeding cost estimates, after more than 6 1/2 years of work. The 1981 completion date has been delayed until 1985, and completion by then is very questionable. Delays and inflation will increase the cost of the highway to about twice the $150 million figure originally estimated. Construction close to the Colombia-Panama border is primarily dependent upon successful foot-and-mouth disease control programs since the highway could be instrumental in spreading the disease northward. The Colombians have not made sufficient progress in controlling the disease, despite U.S. assistance over the past 4 years. Highway funding should, therefore, be postponed south of Yaviza, Panama, until the disease is under control in Colombia.

• Record URL:
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/summary.php?recflag=&rptno=PSAD-78-65
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. General Accounting Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 1978-2-23

Media Info

• Pagination: 52 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communicable diseases; Construction; Cost overruns; Costs; Diseases and medical conditions; Highways; Inflation; International roads; Public health; Road construction
• Uncontrolled Terms: Foot and mouth disease; Viruses
• Geographic Terms: Central America; Colombia; Darien Gap; Mexico; North America; Panama; South America; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Overruns
• Subject Areas: Construction; Economics; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175698
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: PSAD-78-65
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1978 12:00AM