The Salvadoran Congress has approved the allocation of $22.8 million to the Ministry of Public Works for the improvement of two key sections of the Pacific Corridor, as part of the Surf City Phase 1 project. The funding was endorsed by 55 lawmakers during the 65th ordinary plenary session.
Back in May, Minister of Public Works Romeo Herrera extended an open invitation to construction and supervision companies to participate in the bidding process for the new interchange at the junction of the Litoral highway and the road to Acajutla, commonly known as Kilo 5. He emphasized the importance of the project for national connectivity and development, encouraging qualified firms to take part.
One of the central components of the project is the transformation of the intersection between the Litoral highway and the road leading to Acajutla, commonly known as “Kilo 5”. This area will see the construction of a two-level overpass, access and exit ramps, and a bridge over the Sensunapán River. Deputy Mauricio Ortiz of Nuevas Ideas explained that $8.73 million will cover 30% of the project, which also includes sidewalks, drainage systems, lighting, and pedestrian zones.
Initial works will consist of demolitions, excavations, grading, and the removal of existing infrastructure such as a pedestrian bridge and traffic lights. Ortiz highlighted the broader implications of the project, stating, “This will improve the impact and connectivity from the port of Acajutla to the Guatemalan border. Sonsonate will no longer be known just as a transit zone, but as a center for local development. This is not just about logistics—it’s about tourism too.”
The remaining $14 million will be used to upgrade the Litoral highway between El Obispo Beach and El Zonte Beach in the department of La Libertad, expanding it from two to four lanes to enhance traffic flow along the coast.
Deputy Dania González, also of Nuevas Ideas and a member of the finance committee, clarified that the funds are not tied to a new loan, but come from financing already approved in March by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). “Tourism strategy has been key to strengthening our economy. By the end of 2024, tourism revenue reached $2.8 billion, and this project will help boost that even more,” she said.