Construction work is commencing for the new Mieso-Dire Dawa Expressway in Ethiopia. Stretching 144km, the new expressway will connect Dire Dawa city with Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regions.
The project is expected to take four years to complete and the work is being carried out jointly by the Chinese contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Sichuan Road and Bridge Group. Financing is being provided by the World Bank and the project is being carried out in two phases, while the project is being managed by the Ethiopian Roads Administration (ERA).
The new route will be tolled and will provide a faster, safer roadway than the existing link. The expressway forms part of the Ethio-Djibouti Transport Corridor, also known as the Eastern Economic Corridor. Once the route is complete, it will reduce transport costs and journey times between Ethiopia’s ports and the centre of the country. The expressway will also give an economic boost to Ethiopia by improving access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
