Guinea-bissau is a small country on the west african coast. Withan estimated per capita income of about u.S. $170, This country is one of the poorest in the world. The economy is characterized by a large traditional rural sector, producing primarily for subsistence and agriculture. Fisheries and forestry are the other main activities. The country currently suffers from an extremely dilapidated infrastructure, and roads are no exception. A 5-year road program has beendesigned in connection with a world bank project to produce an acceptable mix of road conditions. An economic analysis of the 5-year road program was conducted using the highway design and maintenance standards model. Rates of return and net present values of alternativeimprovement strategies are given both for paved and unpaved road sections. The optimum set of road sections and corresponding maintenance options are then obtained with application of the expenditure budgeting model. The resulting road network will help to increase the country's level of economic activity through reduced freight and passenger transportation costs, more efficient transportation of goods to consumption centers and ports, increased mobility for the population as a whole, easier access to medical and social services, and improved road safety for vehicles and pedestrians. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1291, Fifth international conference on low-volume roads, may 19-23, 1991, raleigh, north carolina, volume 1.
Abstract