Modjo-Hawassa Highway Project To Be Commenced Soon

Written By Biruk Amante

Preparations are underway to begin the construction of the 4-lane dual carriageway Modjo-Hawassa highway project, according to the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA), WIC reported.

Authority Communication Directorate Director told WIC that the 210-km highway project will be implemented in four phases.

The first phase consists of the construction of Modjo-Meki new asphalt road and the second phase includes the construction of asphalt road between Meki-Zeway, he said.

He added that the third and fourth phases consist of the construction of new asphalt road between Zeway-Arsi Negele and Arsi Negele-Hawassa, respectively. 

According to him, the construction of the 56-km Modjo-Meki new asphalt road will be financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the government of Ethiopia.

Financing agreement in underway between the government of Ethiopia and the Korean Exim Bank for the construction of the 37-km Meki-Zeway road, he said.

He added that the World Bank and the Chinese Exim Bank has also showed their interest to support the construction of the 55-kmZeway-Arsi Negele and the 62–km Arsi Negele-Hawassa roads, respectively.

Carriers, travelers, traders, agro-businesses and others will benefit from an improved road connection and access to the southern region of Ethiopia when the project is completed, he said.

The Modjo-Hawassa highway project is one of the road projects envisaged in the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) as part of the fourth phase of the Ethiopian Road Sector Development Program (RSDP).

According to WIC, the Road Sector Development Program, which was started in 1997 is one of the key programs supporting the growth and transformation of Ethiopia.

Source: Walta Information Center (WIC)