The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) announced the launch of the 20km Harar-Jijiga road construction project, Fortune reported.

The project, awarded to Gemshu Beyene Construction PLC – a grade one contractor local contract for 360 million Ethiopian birr, launched on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. Core Consulting Engineers PLC is consulting the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) on the project.

“The contractor has finished all of the preparations and has started the construction of the road,” Samson Wondimu, communication director at the Authority, said. “Based on the contract, we expect the completion of the road within two years.”

Gemshu Beyene Construction has previously contracted for the 280km Dire Dawa to Dawale road, Afar gravel road maintenance and the 76.6km Bima to Matsberi asphalt road in Tigray regional state.

Harar-Jijiga road project is part of the ERA’s fourth Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP), which aims to expand road coverage across the country.

Source: Fortune