Ethiopian Review

(Addis Ababa) – The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) said upgrading construction project of the Harar-Jijiga asphalt road covering 106 km is nearing completion.

ERA Information and Public Relations Section Head Samson Wondimu told ENA on Friday that the project was launched in 2005 by Hunan Road and Bridge Construction, a Chinese company.

The Ethiopian government fully covered the more than 346 million Birr budget for the execution of the project, he said.

Some 80 percent of the project has already been completed.

The Harar-Jijiga road plays a significant role in the social, economic and political activities of the country since it interlinks Oromia, Harari and Somali states.

The head said the government has attached due attention to the construction of new and upgrading of roads, which interlink the country with neighboring countries and sea ports.

Accordingly, he said upgrading of Awash-Hirna- Kulbi-Dengego-Harar road was executed at a cost of over 700 million Birr. The upgrading project of the Harar-Jijiga asphalt road is part of this endeavor.

Samson said upgrading of the Jijiga-Togo-wichale road covering 64 km is also being carried out with an outlay of over 353 million Birr for the same purpose.

The completion of the road projects are expected to speed up the import-export trade via the port, he said.

(ENA)