Chinese-Built Road Transforms Lives in Cajamarca, Peru

At dawn in Peru’s northern Cajamarca region, trucks loaded with passion fruit, cherimoya, and egg fruit now roll smoothly along a newly paved highway through the Andes. The 246-kilometer road corridor, recently handed over by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has connected remote mountain communities to markets, schools, and hospitals — transforming daily life for more than 200,000 residents across 32 communities, according to CCTV News.

A Lifeline Through the Andes

The Cajamarca Road Management, Improvement and Maintenance Project for Corridor No. 11 winds through mountainous terrain at elevations between 1,500 and 2,800 meters, linking districts across the provinces of Cutervo, Chota, and Jaén. The project, awarded in November 2020 by the Regional Government of Cajamarca for S/175 million (approximately US$50 million), involved upgrading the existing road, paving the full route with asphalt, and improving drainage and traffic safety facilities, as the Regional Government of Cajamarca announced at the time.

The road’s impact on local livelihoods has been profound. Truck driver José Augusto, who has navigated these routes for years, recalls the challenges of the past. “Previously, driving this road, the biggest worry was rain,” he told People’s Daily. “Now the road is fixed, traveling the same distance saves a lot of time, and transportation costs have come down.”

The project was executed through Peru’s Proregión program under Provías Descentralizado, with an investment reported at S/188 million, according to Radio Marañon. The corridor comprises four road sections connecting over 20 localities across the provinces of Cutervo, Chota, and Jaén.

For farmers like 55-year-old María González, who has been in the produce business for over two decades, the road has been transformative. “In the past, the biggest worry was not being able to grow, but not being able to transport,” she said. Poor road conditions meant buyers were reluctant to enter the area, and farmers sometimes watched their crops rot. Now, with improved access, more buyers are coming to the region and “farmers’ incomes have also increased.”

More Than a Road: A Lifeline

The corridor has also revolutionized access to healthcare. Ana, a nurse at a community health station along the route, described how the road has become a lifeline for mountain communities. “Now ambulances can reach mountain villages, and patients can get to hospitals more easily,” she said. “For many families, this is not just a road, but a lifeline.”

Previously, residents in remote areas faced journeys of several hours to reach medical facilities, and during the rainy season, impassable roads could delay treatment entirely. The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) reported in April 2024 that the improvement phase of 173.20 kilometers of the corridor benefited over 138,000 people across the districts of Chota, Chiguirip, Conchán, Huambos, Querocoto, Cutervo, and Querocotillo.

Local Jobs and Skills

Beyond connectivity, the project has generated employment and skills training for local residents. Kevin Pool, a 29-year-old who previously worked odd jobs, joined the project as a laborer and learned road construction and machinery operation skills. “Previously I had no stable job; now I’ve not only learned skills but also earn a decent income,” he said, expressing hope to continue working in infrastructure construction.

Project manager Dai Changhui noted the challenges of working in the high-altitude terrain, where steep slopes and significant temperature variations required careful engineering. The team overcame complex geological conditions and variable weather to ensure quality and timely completion. The project was officially handed over in March 2026, with CCECC announcing on its official social media that “travel along the corridor is now smoother, and local farmers can transport their produce more easily.”

Broader Context: China-Peru Infrastructure Cooperation

The Cajamarca road project is part of a broader pattern of Chinese infrastructure engagement in Peru. CCECC, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, has operated in Peru since February 2019 and has won public works contracts worth over S/2 billion (over US$571 million) between 2020 and July 2025, as Convoca.pe reported. The company has generated approximately 5,000 local jobs across multiple Peruvian regions.

China is Peru’s first trading partner and one of its largest investors. Relations have strengthened under President Dina Boluarte, who visited China in June 2024 and met with President Xi Jinping. During the APEC summit in Lima in November 2024, Peru’s Transport Minister signed two Memoranda of Understanding with China’s Transport Minister to strengthen sector cooperation. The feature story was also published in the print edition of People’s Daily on August 3, 2026.

While Chinese state media have highlighted the project’s positive impact, the company’s operations in Peru have not been without scrutiny. An investigative report by Convoca.pe revealed that CCECC Sucursal del Perú is under investigation by Peruvian prosecutors for alleged money laundering and has faced administrative sanctions for presenting false documents — sanctions that were suspended by court injunctions. These concerns, however, are not mentioned in the Chinese media coverage of the Cajamarca project.

Looking Ahead

Mayor Carlos Vargas of Cutervo, one of the key towns along the corridor, summed up the project’s significance: “This road changed many of our lives.” The road is now a key part of the regional transportation network, improving connectivity within Cajamarca and with surrounding areas, creating favorable conditions for agriculture, commerce, and tourism.

As trucks continue to traverse the Andes at sunset, carrying produce to markets and children home from school, the road represents more than asphalt and engineering — it symbolizes the tangible impact of infrastructure investment on everyday lives. For the communities of Cajamarca, the road has opened new possibilities, and the full economic and social benefits are expected to grow in the years ahead.