Ethiopia starts feasibility study for four expressways from Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, February 5, 2025 – The Ethiopian Roads Administration has initiated a study to construct four new expressways linking the country’s capital, Addis Ababa, to various parts of the country, aiming to improve connectivity and boost economic growth.

According to Frew Bekele, Director of Engineering Procurement at the Roads Administration, the expressways will span from Addis Ababa to Dessie, Addis Ababa to Jimma, Addis Ababa to Debre Markos, and Addis Ababa to Nekemte. The proposed routes will traverse through mountainous areas and high-elevation regions, requiring extensive excavation and substantial investments due to their challenging terrain.

To mitigate these costs, the administration has decided to adopt a public-private partnership (PPP) model for the construction of these expressways. The feasibility study, basic design, and preparation work are currently underway, with the necessary studies nearing completion.

Frew stated that each project will be divided into phases, with a specified number of kilometers being constructed at a time, due to their vast lengths (averaging over 300 kilometers per project). The proposals for the Addis Ababa Jimma and Addis Ababa Debre Markos projects have already been submitted to the Public Private Partnership Board at the Ministry of Finance, with the other projects to follow suit.

The approval of the PPP cooperation by the Ministry of Finance will be the next step before the projects proceed to further work. The construction of these expressways is expected to significantly enhance the country’s transportation infrastructure and promote economic development in the regions they will serve.