Tarmacking Begins on Juba-Nimule Road, Southern Sudan’s First Highway
USAID Sudan
February 10, 2011
Tarmacking Begins on Juba-Nimule Road, Southern Sudan’s First Highway
On Thursday, February 10, 2011, the US Consul General in Juba, Ambassador R. Barrie Walkley, will join the President of Southern Sudan H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, and other senior Government of Southern Sudan officials at Aswa Bridge, in an inauguration event to witness the launch of tarmacking of the 192km long Juba-Nimule road. The road is fully funded by USAID and is estimated to cost $225 million by the anticipated completion date in February 2012. It is a living testimony of the partnership between USAID and MTR since construction of the main roadway commenced in May 2009.
Juba-Nimule road is southern Sudan’s highest priority road, linking Juba with Uganda and is the most efficient route to the Port of Mombasa in Kenya. It will be the first major paved road to be constructed in southern Sudan since the signing of the CPA in 2005. The first phase of this project involved a feasibility study, engineering studies, repairs to existing bridges, and demining. The construction of the seven bridges was completed in August 2009. The construction of the eighth bridge, at the border of Sudan and Uganda started in November 2010 and will be completed by April 2011.
In addition to road construction, assistance is also provided to build capacity of local contractors. Rhino Stars Suppliers and Construction Ltd., a Sudanese company, was subcontracted through a competitive bidding process to repair seven existing bridges along the Juba-Nimule road. Another Sudanese Company, Bright Stars, was contracted to grade and maintain a section of the road to ensure an uninterrupted flow of traffic between Juba and Nimule.
Completion of this economically vital road will catalyze business transactions between southern Sudan and the neighboring countries. When completed, it is estimated that travel times between Juba and Nimule will be reduced from 8 hours at the beginning of the project, to about 2½ hours. The project is also providing assistance to improve road safety along the road, which is critical as traffic volumes and speed increase.
Other projects funded by USAID in southern Sudan include: 260 kilometers of all-weather gravel roads in Western Equatoria State, which will be completed in April 2011; upgrading of Kurmuk airstrip to paved standard; and 7km of gravel road connecting the airstrip to Kurmuk town at the border of Ethiopia.
The United States is the single largest donor to Sudan, contributing nearly $10 billion in assistance to Sudan and eastern Chad since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. For more information on USAID programs in Sudan, please visit www.usaid.gov/sudan.