ICR Review Report Number ::: ICRRICRR1189111891 Operations Evaluation Department

Public Disclosure Authorized 1. Project Data: Date Posted ::: 08/09/2004 PROJ IDID:::: P068853 Appraisal Actual Project Name ::: Emergency Road Repair Project Costs 14.5 13.8 Project (((US$M(US$MUS$M)))) Country::: LoanLoan////CreditCredit (((US$M(US$MUS$M)))) 13.7 13 SectorSector((((ssss):):):): Board: TR - Roads and Cofinancing 0 .03 highways (79%), Central (((US$M(US$MUS$M)))) government administration (21%) LLL/L///CC Number::: C3303 Board Approval 00 (((FY(FYFYFY)))) Partners involved ::: United States Trade and Closing Date 06/30/2003 12/31/2003 Development Agency

Public Disclosure Authorized Prepared by ::: Reviewed by ::: Group Manager ::: GroupGroup:::: Kavita Mathur Peter Nigel Freeman Alain A. Barbu OEDST 2. Project Objectives and Components aaa.a... Objectives The project was an emergency operation aimed at restoring the serviceability of the main route connecting the Adriatic Sea (Port of Durres) to Kosovo, and of the - Corovode national road. bbb.b... Components Civil Works - This component included emergency Road Repair works to restore 221.0 km of the national road network to serviceable condition in the following sections: (i) Berat-Corovode Section (Berat - Polican (22 km) and Polican - Corovode (26 km)); (ii) Fushe Kruje-- Section (Fushe Kruje – Mamurras (16 km) and Mamurras – Milot (14 km)); (iii) Qafe Qele-Fushe Arrez Section (49 km); (iv) Fushe Arrez-Kukes Section (70 km); and (v) Kukes-Morine Section (24 km). Institutional Support (Goods ) - This component included laboratory, office, and environmental mitigation equipment, software, and vehicle for PIU. Institutional Support (Training and Consulting Services ):  Project related training, including financial and environmental management, procurement, and relevant technical issues in Public Disclosure Authorized road and bridge design, construction, and maintenance;  Consultant services for the supervision of road works;  Consultant services for the operation of the PIU;  Project audits;  Preparation of design and bidding documents for the second-year program of works;  Preparation of Durrës-Morinë Road Feasibility Study; and  Preparation of feasibility study, and first-year design and bidding documents for a follow-on project. ccc.c... Comments on Project Cost, Financing and Dates The project was extended by six months to complete Durres - Morine road feasibility study. 3. Achievement of Relevant Objectives: The objective of restoring the serviceability of the main route connecting the Adriatic Sea (Port of Durres) to Kosovo, and of the Berat - Corovode national road was achieved. Emergency repairs were made on 200 kilometers (km) of main road network compared to the appraisal target of 221 km. The international roughness index (IRI) is 6 m/km compared with the appraisal average of 10 m/km. 4. Significant Outcomes/Impacts: Training and technical assistance was provided to strengthen the capacity of General Roads Directorate (GRD) staff to prepare designs and procurement documentation, and to carry out construction and maintenance. The designs and the procurement Public Disclosure Authorized documentation, for the first phase of the follow-on Road Maintenance Project (RMP) were completed on schedule.Twenty four staff attended a one-week seminar on economic evaluation using the Highway Development and Management Model, Version 4 (HDM-IV) in . The Project also included three part-time visits, and the subsequent advisory services of a Procurement Specialist. This was financed by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). 5. Significant Shortcomings (including non-compliance with safeguard policies):  There were frequent delays in the procurement process and subsequently in the implementation especially during Phase I due to changes in senior management and inadequate staffing of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).  The supervision of contracts during the Phase I was also poor. There were deficiencies in the quality of civil works. Some works had to be demolished and rebuilt to achieve the quality standard.  The Durres - Morine road feasibility study was delayed significantly.

666.6... Ratings::: ICRICRICR OED Review Reason for Disagreement ///Comments /Comments Outcome::: Satisfactory Satisfactory Institutional Dev .:.:.: Modest Modest Sustainability ::: Likely Unlikely The resources allocated by the Government of Albania (GoA) for road expenditures are not adequate to maintain the road network, which is in poor condition. Bank Performance ::: Satisfactory Satisfactory Borrower Perf .:.:.: Satisfactory Satisfactory Quality of ICR ::: Satisfactory NOTENOTE: ICR rating values flagged with ' * ' don't comply with OP/BP 13.55, but are listed for completeness. 7. Lessons of Broad Applicability:  The Bank needs to make a very strong case to establish a project specific PIU, if there is an already established competent PIU. Under the Emergency Road Repair Project, a PIU was established even though a more experienced PIU for the National Roads Project was already there . Subsequently, the two PIU were merged.  An Emergency Recovery Credit can quickly provide the much needed resources to carry out urgent repairs/works. Such operations should be kept as simple as possible . 8. Assessment Recommended? Yes No 9. Comments on Quality of ICR: The ICR presents all relevant issues in a clear and objective manner.