The Chinese construction company, China Road and Bridge Corporation Addis Engineering (CRBC) and the Israel based, Tidhar Construction Ltd have been awarded the 8.6km interchange and roundabout project, part of the Light Railway Transit (LRT) project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The joint finaniers of the project, the Addis Ababa City Administration and the Federal Government of Ethiopia,selected the contractors to undertake the the 2.5 billion birr project within the set deadline.

Another Chinese company that is undertaking the main Light Railway Transit project – China Railway Engineering Group Limited (CREC) has been expressing concerns about the sluggish move of the interchange road construction project. The company noted at the time that the two-year completion timetable would not be feasible.

The LRT stretching on a total of 34.35 kms has two primary routes, one running from the north to the south of the city while the other connects the east and the west, both covering equivalent distances.

The Light Railway Transit project design contains 20 overpasses along both routes, of which six will have major roundabouts. Previously, Fekade Haile (Eng.) general manager of the Addis Ababa City Roads Authority told The Reporter that these major roundabouts would have some basic underground construction works that must be done carefully, requiring qualified and experienced foreign contractors with practical experience. Out of the total five project sites Tidhar will work on the two sites, while CRBC will work on three lots.

So far the biggest urban road project in the country is the Bole road renovation, which was estimated to cost 1.08 billion birr. However, with its overall estimated cost of 2.6 billion birr, the interchange is expected to be the biggest.

Source: The Reporter