New highway for Ethiopia being constructed

Construction work on a 130km section of highway is being carried out at present in Ethiopia. The stretch runs between the towns of Awash and the city of Adama, which lie to the east of capital Addis Ababa. The new section of road being built will form part of the highway from Adama to Dire Dewa. The US$544 million project is being managed by the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA). The work is needed to improve the route from Addis Ababa to Dire Dewa, which carries a high percentage of heavy truck traffic and is a present unsuited to requirements. While there is a highway from Addis Ababa to the university city of Adama, the connection carrying on to Dire Dewa is important for transport and trade. The Ethiopian Government is prioritising road construction projects with a view to improving infrastructure and developing the country’s economy.