Rehabilitation of Kayonza-Rusumo road has been launched, with the 92-kilometre network expected to be widened as well.
Rehabilitation of Kayonza-Rusumo road has been launched, with the 92-kilometre network expected to be widened as well.
The road is expected to ease cross-border trade and transportation between East-African countries.
The project works, launched in Kayonza yesterday, will go through Ngoma to Kirehe District, and will take two-and-a-half years to be completed.
It is being implemented under joint venture of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and NPD Ltd, a local construction firm.
Speaking to journalists after the launch, the Kayonza-Rusumo road project manager at CRBC, Liu Zemin, said both firms will do their best to finish the road in time.
He said during the works people should be vigilant because they will be using heavy trucks and machinery.
"We might also need the support of the local government, especially in the areas near schools, to communicate to residents. We hope that, together, we will finish this project safely,” he said.
Liu said CRBC has 43 years of experience in Rwanda’s road construction, adding that they were well equipped to do the work.
"Rehabilitation and widening is not a difficult task for an experienced company, what is most critical is the fibre optic cables under ground,” Liu said.
He explained that for a heavy traffic road on which there are large vehicles and passenger flow, especially a mass of long-distance light vehicles, the project would reduce the transportation pressure and increase transportation capability by a significant degree.
The Kayonza-Rusumo section is the third phase of the Kagitumba–Kayonza-Rusumo road project in Eastern Province.
Kayonza mayor Jean Claude Murenzi said the road will bring cross-cutting impacts as it links Rwanda with two East African countries, Tanzania and Uganda.
"This road will ease transportation and passenger flow for these countries. Particularly, local residents will get jobs in these rehabilitation works while local traders will get clients for foodstuff and other materials,” he said.
Murenzi said the upgrades will reduce traffic accidents on the journey.
Diamba Unemble, a resident engineer at AIC Progett Hycojec, a firm contracted to supervise the project, said they will ensure that the project works meet international standards.
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