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News Brief No. 13; May 21, 1999NEWS UPDATE ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTSInfrastructure
projects were the first priority for the Bethlehem 2000 Project Authority
whenwork in Bethlehem began almost a year ago. Infrastructure projects and
the associated cultural
heritage projects are the basis for making the entire Bethlehem 2000
Project preparations a success and thus they continue to be essential in
the development and modernization of the district. In
order to update you on the progress of the Infrastructure sector of the
Bethlehem 2000 Project, we have outlined the on-going projects below.
Please note that this listing does not include the completed projects nor
those for which we have not yet found funding. Expected
date of completion: August 1999. WB
Loan funds project.
Jerusalem-Hebron
Road - First Part: The
construction of a 2km of a four lane divided highway including all necessary
infrastructure. Expected
date of completion: before the end of Oct. 1999. WB
Loan funds project. Jerusalem-Hebron
Road - Second Part:
Preparations to build the infrastructure and excavate in order to build the remaining 2.2km of the
four lane highway has begun,
however work in area C of the project,( i.e. 700 m. in length) was
suspended on 28/4/1999. This hold up is
due to a decision taken by the Israeli authorities. Bethlehem 2000 is
pursuing the issue with the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Expected
date of completion: Oct. 1999. Project
is funded by W B Loan. Shepherds
Field Beit Sahour Road:.
Work is on-going for a 2.5km road leading to Shepherds Field. Expected
date of completion: August 99. Project
funded by the Government of Norway.
Construction
of Water Reservoir near Bethlehem University - Bethlehem:
The floor and walls of
this reservoir are completed. Expected
date of completion: End of June 1999. Project
funded by WB loan. Solomons
Pools-Artas-Bethlehem Roads: Work
on this project is expected to begin by the end of
May 99. Expected
date of completion: December 1999. Project
funded by the Government of Italy. Water Distribution Networks ( Bethlehem District): Tendering for this project is completed. The agreement includes constructing Ductile Water pipes, and a Water pump in Bethlehem and Doha. Expected date of completion: November 1999. Project funded by WB loan. Rehabilitation of Inner Roads Bethlehem District: The evaluation of tenders for rehabilitating 4km of the main inner roads (which have been in Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour) opened on May 13, 1999 and are ongoing. Expected date of completion: October 1999. Project funded by World Bank Loan. Doha Sewage - Doha: Tenders will be submitted by the end of 3 June 1999. The works construction of 28km of Sewage pipes on Doha, Khader and Beit Jala. Expected date of completion: February 2000. Project funded by the Government of the United Kingdom. Karkafa Road Bethlehem: Construction has started. Expected date of completion: November 1999. Project funded by USAID. Bethlehem Southern Inner Ring Final Tendering documents for this project are being developed. Bid opening will be on May 27. Expected date of completion: December 1999. Project funded by USAID. Star Road - Bethlehem: Rehabilitation work began on May 3, 1999. Expected date of completion: November 1999. Project funded by the Government of Spain. Paul VI Road - Bethlehem: Work on the part of the road being financed by the Government of Sweden began on May 5, 1999. The tender of the rehabilitation of Madbasa Square and Farhiah Street, which is being financed by the Government of Germany were opened on May 15. Expected date of completion: October 1999. Project funded by the Governments of Sweden and Germany. Rehabilitation
of Milk Grotto Street - Bethlehem:
Work on rehabilitation has begun. Expected date of completion: October 1999. Project funded by the Government of Greece. Rehabilitation
of Wasat al-Balad (City Centre) Beit Sahour: Implementation
of the project has begun. Expected date of completion: November 1999. Project funded by WB. Rehabilitation
of Dar Mansour Bethlehem: Implementation
has begun. Expected date of completion: July 1999. Project funded by the Government of France. Rehabilitation
of Wassat al-Balad (City Centre) Beit Jala: Work
is expected to start on June 1999. Expected date of completion: November 1999. WB funded first part of the project. Rehabilitation
of St. Marys Church Bethlehem:
Tenders are expected to be opened in late May 99. Work is expected to
begin on June 1999. Expected date of completion: September 1999. Project funded by WB loan. Construction
of Peace Centre (next to Manger Square Bethlehem):
Work
began on November 1998 and is on going. Expected date of completion: November 1999. Project funded by the Government of Sweden. Rehabilitation
of the main Vegetable Market - Bethlehem:
Work is on going. Expected date of completion: End of May 1999. Project funded by the Government of Sweden. Traffic
and Tourist Sign Package Bethlehem district:
Under design and tender. This project includes
street signs and historic site signs as well as traffic signs and tourist
guiding signs. Expected date of completion: November 1999. Project funded by USAID and the Government of France. Orthodox
Patriarch Complex near Manger Square (Bethlehem):
This
project consists of a commercial center which includes a multi-story car
park. The
ceiling of the top floor has been completed. The
ground floor of the car park has still to be completed Expected date of completion: October 1999. Project funded by Private Sector. Rehabilitation
of An-Najajre Quarter - Bethlehem:
Tender stage. Work on this project is expected to begin on June 1999. Expected date of completion: December 1999. Project funded by Japan. Bethlehem
Transport Terminal:
Digging and leveling of the area began on April 6, 1999. The four-story
parking lot in the vicinity of Manger Square is expected to be the main
parking lot for all tourist buses. Expected date of completion: December 1999. Project funded by Private Sector. |
