The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has approved a $607m loan for five projects aimed at improving Honduras’ road system.

The loan will fund the Honduras Resilient Roads Programme, which will upgrade 308km of highways in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

The loan’s payment period is 20 years with a five-year grace period, the statement said, without providing the interest rate.

The highways included in the scheme are:

• The Danlí–Trojes and Ojo de Agua–Cantarranas highways in the eastern part of the country
• The Honduras Tourism Corridor, which includes the road segments between La Barca and La Ceiba
• The design of the El Progreso City Bypass as well as the Santa Rosa de Copán and the Chamelecón–Naco bypasses.

CABEI said the loan would benefit more than 120,000 drivers and create 2,820 construction jobs.