Global Coverage Article | Reuters.co.uk
Global Coverage Article | Reuters.co.uk: "LEUPUNG, Indonesia (Reuters) - The first post-tsunami infrastructure project in Indonesia's Aceh province got underway on Thursday with the awarding of an initial contract for a $245 million U.S.-funded coastal road.
Large parts of the 240 km (150 miles) west coast road linking the provincial capital Banda Aceh and the city of Meulaboh were destroyed by the massive December 26 waves.
As a result, aid agencies and foreign militaries involved in the emergency relief effort were forced to rely on ships and helicopters.
Three months after the disaster, Indonesia's military reopened that route using emergency materials, but the road becomes impassable in wet weather.
On Thursday, the U.S. government awarded a $13.5 million contract to an Indonesian construction company for the first phase of the project.
Phase one involves 20 km of new road and the rehabilitation of another 80 km of old road between Banda Aceh to the town of Lamno, officials said.
'In order to build this road, we must construct 110 bridges,' said Lewis Anselem, a U.S. diplomat attending the groundbreaking ceremony in Leupung, 22 km from Banda Aceh.
The tsunami left more than 170,000 people dead or missing in Aceh alone and devastated Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, the main city on the west coast of the province."
Large parts of the 240 km (150 miles) west coast road linking the provincial capital Banda Aceh and the city of Meulaboh were destroyed by the massive December 26 waves.
As a result, aid agencies and foreign militaries involved in the emergency relief effort were forced to rely on ships and helicopters.
Three months after the disaster, Indonesia's military reopened that route using emergency materials, but the road becomes impassable in wet weather.
On Thursday, the U.S. government awarded a $13.5 million contract to an Indonesian construction company for the first phase of the project.
Phase one involves 20 km of new road and the rehabilitation of another 80 km of old road between Banda Aceh to the town of Lamno, officials said.
'In order to build this road, we must construct 110 bridges,' said Lewis Anselem, a U.S. diplomat attending the groundbreaking ceremony in Leupung, 22 km from Banda Aceh.
The tsunami left more than 170,000 people dead or missing in Aceh alone and devastated Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, the main city on the west coast of the province."
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