75 per cent of work on Addis-Goha Tsion TRRP completes

Addis Ababa, January 31(ENA)--The Addis Ababa - Goha Tsion 182.5 kilometer Trunk Road Rehabilitation Project (TRRP) has entered its final phase of implementation.

Some 75 per cent work on the road rehabilitation project has already been finalized, covering about 130 kilometer of the total stretch.

The project is underway with a 940 million Birr Grant Aid channeled through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA).

The JICA officials were briefing local journalists during a three-day Press Tour beginning Wednesday.

Being implemented by KAJIMA, a Japanese contractor, the remaining work on the trunk road rehabilitation project is expected to complete in two years period now, according to consultant engineer, Tadele Mandefrot.

One of Ethiopia's northwestern trunk roads, the rehabilitation project is believed to enhance links with areas of high agricultural potential to developing industrial areas and their markets, say JICA officials.

The areas along the northwestern trunk roads produce 46 per cent of all agricultural products and 45 per cent of livestock in the country.

Yujiro Yabe, JICA assistant resident representative, said that as most of the engineers working under the project are Ethiopians, knowledge transfer from Japan is apparent.

Work on the project include the widening and resealing of roads, rebuilding and restoring of 19 bridges and the construction of drainage at 294 locations.

The project is also believed to encourage urban development, enhance agricultural production and promote industrial growth by creating smoother distribution of materials and a reduction in travelling costs and time for vehicles.

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