Authority to construct 97,517 kms roads

Addis Ababa, August 1, 2012 (WIC) - Some 97,517 kms roads will be constructed with 125. 3 billion birr in the five-year road sector development programme, the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) said.

Authority Communication Director Samson Wondimu told ENA over the weekend that construction of 71,523 kms all weather roads of the total roads planned to be constructed through the programme is set to be carried out between the years 2003 E.C. and 2007 E.C.
The roads will significantly contribute towards development of the country.

Samson said construction, upgrading and renovation of 20,760 kms roads will be carried out in 2005 E.C. budget year.

He said 26,181 kms all weather roads interconnecting different rural localities will be constructed in different states in the Universal Road Access Programme (URAP), which is given prime attention in the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan period.

The programme had created jobs for over 274,000 citizens in 2004 E.C. budget year.

According to ENA, URAP is designed to construct roads interconnecting all rural localities in Ethiopia.