Ethiopia - Jima-Mizan Road Upgrading Project

The upgrading of 227.18-km Jima-Mizan road from gravel to bitumen standard has been conceived under the Road Sector Development Program (RSDP II). The project road links the towns of Jima and Mizan and forms part of the south western corridor route from Addis Ababa. It serves the highly fertile coffee-growing areas and thus plays a strategic role in linking this large area with its high agricultural potential to the rest of the country. The road also plays an important role in linking small towns, villages, and scattered communities along the route and fulfils a vital role in transporting goods locally and maintaining social ties. The project comprises the following components: i) Construction/upgrading works of the 227.18-km Jima – Mizan road from gravel road to Asphalt Concrete standard; ii) Consultancy Services for (a) supervision of construction works of (i) above and (b) project audit services; and iii) Resettlement/Payment of Compensation to affected population. Its implementation will lead to the opening up of Addis Ababa – South Western Road Corridor to the Border of Northern Kenya and Southern Sudan. The project will promote effective market integration of the zone of influence to the national economy and to foreign markets. The estimated cost is UA 101.53 million (net of taxes) and will be implemented over a period of 36 months starting January 2008.