Sinopia News Top

Ethiopia to Construct 97,517 KM of Roads

Ethiopia plans to construct an estimated 97,517 kilometers of road worth approximately 125.3  billion birr as part of the five year Road Sector Development Program according to the Ethiopian Roads Authority.

The construction of 71,523 kilometers of the total designed to be completed according to the program were planned to be undertaken in the first four years of the plan (2003 to 2007 Ethiopian Calendar) said Samson Wondimu Director of Communications with the authority.

As per this schedule 20,760 kilometers of roads will be constructed in the new financial year said Samson.

In addition 26,181 kilometers of all weather roads which will link a range of rural locations are also expected to be located in different parts of the country as part of the Universal Road Access Program he noted.

The road development program as created for more than 274,000 citizens in the just ended budget year added Samson.   

It is to be remembered that the Ethiopian Road Authority managed to complete just 9,582 kilometers as part of its bid to construct 71,523 kilometers in five years under the Universal Rural Road Access Project. The plan would require the authority to construct 14,000 kilometers every year.

The construction program has fallen behind due to several challenges including financial shortages, absence of consultants and contractors, delays in getting construction materials to the sites in the right quantities it was said.

The authority hopes to address these problems by increasing commitment to the project and effecting solutions on all fronts.
Source: Walta Info