The Ethiopian Roads Authority revealed plans to construct and repair 2216 kilometers of roads this financial year. The road construction and repair program is expected to cost an estimated 8 billion birr.
More than 1022 kilometers of the total road program will consist of new road construction according to Samson Wondimu Communications Director for the Roads Authority.
The road projects are intended to foster closer market links across the country as well as reducing the cost of transport and the time required for farmers to transport their produce to markets he said.
The current program is also designed to take into account the needs of emerging states to ensure equitable development across the nation explain Samson.
The Authority has prioritized the construction of access roads to significant projects including irrigation, mining and commercial mining ventures in various areas he added.The renovation and upgrading of existing road systems will also be given considerable attention this fiscal year noted Samson.
It is to be remembered ERA announced plans to construct 39 roads in the newly started financial year, earlier. The construction projects are part of the Road Sector Development Program making up a total of 2800 kilometers of roads according to Samson Wondimu.
Thirty of the thirty nine projects are asphalt roads while the remaining nine are gravel roads all planned to strengthen upgrade and link the existing road infrastructure he said.
A significant part of the 14 billion birr required to finance the projects will be covered by the Ethiopian government while the World Bank will offer funding for some of the projects explained Samson.
Source: Ethiopian Herald
