NORTH AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
FACT SHEET
SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, SONORA
Project:
Street Paving and Rehabilitation Project.
Cost:
$179.1 million pesos (US$14.7 million).
Sponsor:
Municipality of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora.
Location:
San Luis Rio Colorado is located in the northwest corner of the state of
Sonora where three states converge: Arizona, Baja California and
Sonora. It shares a border with San Luis, AZ and is only 23 miles
southwest of Yuma, AZ and 42 miles east of Mexicali, B.C.
Background:
Air quality in San Luis Rio Colorado is affected by airborne dust (PM10)
generated by several sources, including unpaved roads which account for
approximately 76% of the roadway surface in the city, as well as dust
generated by roads in poor condition.1 Strong prevailing winds and
heavy traffic volumes due to population growth and cross-border traffic
exacerbate the situation. Although there is no official air quality
monitoring in San Luis Rio Colorado, the neighboring U.S. community
of Yuma County has been designated as a non-attainment area for PM10.
Since the communities share the same air basin, air quality conditions in
San Luis Rio Colorado are likely to be very similar.
One of the priority development activities in the Municipality’s Urban
Development Plan is the implementation of paving programs to improve
connectivity throughout the community. The Municipality has made
continuous investments to address paving deficiencies throughout the
city. For 2013, planned paving investments are expected to cover a total
surface area of almost 775,000 m2 (8.3 million ft2), of which
approximately 360,000 m2 are included in the proposed project.
The proposed project will help reduce the backlog of unpaved roads in
several zones of the city, improve roadway connectivity, and rehabilitate
the most heavily trafficked roads in the downtown area. In particular, the
interconnection of several main thoroughfares will provide easier access
to the university and direct routes for delivery of agricultural products
from the San Luis Valley (southwest of the city) to the downtown area
and the commercial port-of-entry (on the northeast side).
1
A paving study by satellite imaging conducted in 2011 by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission
(BECC), in coordination with the Sonora State Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development, indicated that
San Luis Rio Colorado had about 5 million m2 of paved streets, which represents 23.7% of the urban area.
POSTED: SEPTEMBER 2013
Description:
The Project consists of first-time road paving and rehabilitation of
existing roadways, and includes the following components:
-
235,200 m2 (2.5 million ft2) or approximately 17.1 km (10.6
miles) of new paving;
-
124,800 m2 (1.3 million ft2) or approximately 7.6 km (4.7 miles)
of paving rehabilitation in the downtown area; and
-
Two bridges across existing irrigation canals.
BECC Certification:
September 17, 2013
NADB Funding:
Loan Program:
Market rate loan:
Up to MX$112.5 million
The peso-denominated loan has an estimated dollar value of US$9.2
million and will cover about 63% of the project costs.
Other Funding
Sources:
The remaining costs will be covered by federal, state and municipal
funds.
Benefits:
Street paving and improved urban mobility will help reduce air pollution
caused by vehicular dust and traffic congestion, thus improving
respiratory health conditions for local residents. Reducing PM10 in the
region is also expected to help Yuma County improve conditions
influencing its designation as a non-attainment area for this pollutant. It
is estimated that the project will reduce PM10 emissions by an estimated
99.7% in the direct project area, which equates to 185.6 metric
tons/year.2 Additional direct benefits to the local community include
facilitating access to emergency, security and other public services;
reducing travel times; and fostering economic development.
For more information, contact Juan Antonio Flores,
North American Development Bank, 210-231-8000.
2
Estimate provided by BECC using the methodology recommended and approved by USEPA AP-42 for estimating
PM10 emissions by vehicles traveling on unpaved roads.
2