The World Bank has approved a $150m loan to Peru to finance the rehabilitation and maintenance of key national highways.

The money will be used to upgrade a total of 183km road network in the country, which includes the Ayacucho-Abancay highway, Llama-Cochabamba highway, Cochabamba-Chota highway and the Reither Bridge-Paucartambo Bridge – Villarica highway.

The loan also covers the maintenance of 2.096km of national highways as well as implementation of road safety infrastructure.

The project is expected to reduce traffic-related deaths and travel times as well as streamline passenger and cargo transportation conditions to improve trade.