A. M. 
President Nayib Bukele inaugurated one of the most important road infrastructure works in the history of El Salvador, with an investment of US$160 million. This project is part of a government strategy to modernize the country’s road network, with the aim of boosting the economy, strengthening connectivity and promoting the development of key sectors such as tourism and trade.
This sunday, the President delivered sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Gerardo Barrios peripheral road, located in San Miguel, an emblematic work that covers 21 kilometers and connects from the El Obrajuelo canton, in Quelepa, to the El Papalón canton, in the center of San Miguel. This infrastructure represents a milestone in the eastern region of the country.
“We pledged to promote the development of the east with strategic road infrastructure projects. One of the promises was to build the San Miguel bypass, now known as the Gerardo Barrios peripheral road”, said President Bukele.
The project, which received financial support from the Government of Japan, will benefit more than 245,000 inhabitants and will have a significant impact on international trade by improving connectivity with neighboring countries. This project positions El Salvador as a strategic point in the Central American region.
The peripheral highway will reduce travel times by at least 40 minutes, optimizing costs and improving logistics in the area. The first section, inaugurated in 2021, widened the Pan-American Highway from two to four lanes from the Moncagua turnoff to El Obrajuelo. Subsequent sections included new expansions, overpasses and the construction of major bridges.
In total, the project includes 21 kilometers of road, 42 kilometers of bicycle lanes, four main bridges over rivers, two interchanges, seven overpasses, a cattle overpass, four traffic circles and 12 bus stops, among other elements. This project is part of a comprehensive plan that will allocate US$1.358 million to the development of the eastern region.
In addition, the president announced that a solar panel lighting project will begin next week in this area, with an investment of US$3 million and an estimated completion time of 90 days. These types of initiatives reinforce the government’s commitment to the modernization and sustainability of the country.
