Burundi - Nyakararo-Mwaro-Gitega (RN18) Road Improvement and Asphalting Project – Phase 1 - Nyakararo-Mwaro-Kibumbu Section (30 km)

The Nyakararo-Mwaro-Gitega Road Improvement and Asphalting Project/Phase 1, Nyakararo-Mwaro-Kibumbu Section, is part of Burundi´s road network improvement programme. This road, which is approximately 30 km long, is a section of National Highway No.18 (RN 18), and part of the economic and strategic link between the capital and the central, northern and eastern parts of the country. The project comprises the following four components: (A) improvement and asphalting works on the Nyakararo-Mwaro-Kibumbu road (30 km), including environmental protection measures; (B) related improvements, comprising 41 km of rural roads, rehabilitation of grassroots socioeconomic infrastructure and support to women´s groups; (C) institutional support in the form of technical assistance to build the capacity of the professionals in the executing agency ; and (D) project management and monitoring support. Project activities will be implemented from January 2015 to December 2018. The improvement and asphalting of RN18, scheduled to be implemented in two phases, will open up access to the project area and ease congestion on RN1 (Bujumbura–Kayanza) which carries the heavy traffic on the North Corridor (to/from the Port of Mombasa in Kenya) and the Central Corridor (to/from the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania) as well as the national traffic between the centre, north and east provinces. The newly constructed road will, therefore, serve as a principal route to the Central Corridor via RN12: Muyinga –Gitega.