The Peruvian Highway System Peru's n

Peru's national transport system has been subjected to intense difficulties over its lifespan. Five key problems affecting the system are geographical factors, weather and natural disasters, terrorism, inadequate maintenance and poor construction. The current government is now attempting to address these challenges and has recently introduced plans for large-scale development operations which it is hoped will better support the social and economic aims of all Peruvians, particularly those in rural areas.

Peru's geographical proximity to the ecological treasures of the Andes mountains and the Amazon has complicated the development of a viable system of overland transportation during the last few decades. Much debate and numerous power struggles surround every attempt to implement development strategies, due to local and international concerns to preserve the Amazon's fragile ecosystem. Ultimately, any decision making must take seriously Peru's responsibility to the environment, as Mayer writes,

The conclusion is that in order to achieve a more satisfactory relationship between society and environment, provisions should be made for changes brought about by human activities, thus minimizing potential conflicts. This is the underlying premise of the OAS's long-term commitment to balanced and sustainable development in the Hemisphere. "Amazonia cannot be conquered as the American West was. We need to learn how to live in harmony with Amazonia," remarked Cordeiro (Mayer).

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cks"(Mauceri 12). Roads are particularly vulnerable, due to their remoteness and lack of government supervision. Terrorists are able to achieve maximum disruption, drawing optimal attention to their cause by cutting off ordinary villagers and rural dwellers from their lines of supply. Inadequate maintenance of the highways connecting the various major cities of Peru is another problem within the Peruvian transport system. The country's administration by the Toledo government led to considerable political turmoil. High unemployment and financial instability has led to a disorganized approach toward the development of infrastructure. Peru contains 72,900 kilometers of highways, of which only 9,331 are paved (www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pe.html, 2004). Poor construction of highways was mainly due to lack of planning and lack of public funds to adequately resource building projects. Fortunately, foreign aid has been offered to provide much needed funding to ensure that new roads will be better constructed and adequately maintained. The people of Peru know that their country's productivity depends upon the reliability and functionality of the transportation system, as Nugent reports, Amazonas will only progress when

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