EFSD and Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration to assess condition of flood-damaged bridges in Lori and Tavush
YEREVAN, 4 December. /ARKA/. The Eurasian Fund for Stabilisation and Development (EFSD) and the Armenian Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure are starting to assess the condition of bridges damaged by the May floods in Lori and Tavush marzes (provinces) of Armenia.
The technical condition of 8 bridges will be checked in order to ensure transport communication.
The Fund will assess the strength of materials and joints, determine the degree of corrosion of reinforcement and metals, also the statistical and dynamic tests of the bridges.
Solutions will also be proposed to protect the transport infrastructure from the negative impact of floods. All the work is planned to be completed by the end of this year. The Fund will pass the data obtained and the professional opinion to the ministry free of charge. Based on this, a decision will be made to carry out the work in the specified areas.
The emergency situation in Tavush and Lori was caused by heavy rainfall on 25-26 May, as well as by the overflow of the Debed, Aghstev and Tashir rivers. The natural disaster claimed 4 lives, more than 440 people were evacuated. The flood-affected settlements of these two marzes were declared a disaster zone.
About EFSD projects in Armenia
The Eurasian Fund for Stabilisation and Development (EFSD) is implementing more than 10 projects in Armenia in such areas as agriculture and water management, road construction and healthcare, energy and state budget support (some of them co-financed by the authorities of the country and other international organisations). The total portfolio of the Fund's projects in Armenia totals $840 million.
Among the largest projects are financing and reform support ($300 million), budget support ($100 million), construction of the North-South road corridor (two projects totalling $350 million), modernisation of irrigation systems ($40 million).
The Republic of Armenia is one of the founding members of the EFSD.
