Ethiopia planning road network growth

Ethiopia is setting a target of 2020 to complete its road expansion programme. The plan has been to double the length of the country’s road network in the period from 2015 to 2020. At present Ethiopia has around 121,200km of roads, compared with around 100,000km of roads in 2015. But by 2020, the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) aims to expand the network to 200,000km.
June 11, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Ethiopia is setting a target of 2020 to complete its road expansion programme. The plan has been to double the length of the country’s road network in the period from 2015 to 2020. At present Ethiopia has around 121,200km of roads, compared with around 100,000km of roads in 2015. But by 2020, the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) aims to expand the network to 200,000km. This expansion contrasts strongly with the country’s previous road network, with only 19,000km in all in 1990. However this expansion highlights Ethiopia’s economic growth and its focus on road development as a route to developing its trade and industry. And in the last 20 years, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport has supervised its ERA subsidiary in spending a budget of some US$11 billion on road building.


Several major road projects are being planned at present, with construction work now commencing by a Chinese contractor for a new highway in the south of the country. The Modjo-Hawassa Expressway will stretch 202km when complete, with two lanes in either direction. The project has been split into sections, with the for the construction of the Meki-Hawassa stretch. These include building the Meki-Ziway section, the stretch linking Ziway with Arsi Negele and the section to connect Arsi Negele with Modjo. The highway will run past the East Langano Nature Reserve as well as the Abidjatta-Shalla National Park, helping develop tourism in the region, as well as trade and transport.

Road Structures

Related Content

  • Black sea countries complete preparations for implementation of Black Sea Ring project
    August 23, 2016
    The Black Sea Ring Road project will improve transport connections for the region - Eugene Gerden writes. Russia has officially started implementation of a project, known as the Black Sea Ring Road, which involves building a four-lane highway system connecting the countries surrounding the Black Sea. The Black Sea Ring Road is a substantial project, a highway measuring some 7,140km in all. Among the countries participating in the project are Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Greece and
    Read More
  • Russian bypass projects under construction
    October 5, 2018
    The Russian government is starting a major programme of building bypasses around large cities during the current financial year – Eugene Gerden writes The Russian government is starting a massive programme of building bypasses around the country’s biggest cities during this financial year. The aim is to address the problems of traffic jams and speeding traffic on federal routes, according to recent statements by the Russian Presidential Administration and some senior officials from the Ministry of Trans
    Read More
  • Challenges and investment opportunities in East Africa transport infrastructure Sector
    November 21, 2014
    East Africa offers considerable potential for transport infrastructure expansion and investment - Shem Oirere reports Infrastructure, infrastructure and more infrastructure is what is needed to make East Africa the favoured destination and Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda have unveiled grand plans to enhance the infrastructure both nationally and regionally.” This is how market analyst Deloitte introduced its 2014/15 budget analysis for the four countries in July.
    Read More
  • South Africa's world class tollway development
    May 8, 2012
    Part of an extensive motorway network measuring some 185km, the ongoing Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GIFP) is creating a modern, world-class toll route system that provides major impetus to socio-economic growth in South Africa's most populous and commercially active region.
    Read More

Highlighted Content