The Ethiopian Roads Authority kicked off the construction of two mega road projects in the Amhara Regional State for 2.2 billion Br.

The projects were launched at the end of last week with the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, Minister of Transport Dagmawit Moges and Deputy President of Amhara Regional State Temesgen Tiruneh. Expected to be completed in three years, one of the projects is a road that connects Bahir Dar to Tis Esat, while the second one is a bridge over the Abay River.

Bahir Dar - Tis Esat Road, made of asphalt and concrete, extends 22.3Km and costs 767 million Br. Melcon Construction Plc, a local construction company, was hired for the project in July 2019.

Melcon, which was founded 18 years ago, constructed the Yeka-Ayat and the Melka Jebdu-Dire Dawa road projects at a cost of 130 million Br and 63.5 million Br, respectively. Melcon is also constructing a 4.5Km road that extends from Haile Garment to Jemo Square in the capital that costs 536 million Br.

The Authority is in the process of hiring a consulting firm that will supervise and consult Melcon on the project.

The road is expected to boost tourism as the new road will create better connecting routes from Bahir Dar to the Blue Nile falls, a prominent tourist destination. The road will also connect the area with Bahir Dar Industrial Park.

CCCC was awarded for the second project that involves the construction of a 380-metre-long bridge that connects Bahir Dar with Gonder at a cost of 1.4 billion Br. The bridge will be 43 metres in width and will have the capacity to accommodate a six-lane motorway, a bicycle path and a walkway.

CCCC, a company which has constructed Kombolcha Industrial Park, Addis-Adama Expressway, Africa Avenue (Bole Road), Measo-to-Djibouti railway and the expansion of the Addis Abeba Bole International Airport, secured the project after vying against three other Chinese firms.

The Chinese company has four other ongoing road projects with the Authority -- Hawassa Airport-Bishan Guracha (Tikur Weha); Jijiga-Gelesh; Cherereti-Hagermekor;  and Arsi Negele-Hawassa road projects.

Botek Bosporus Technical Consulting, a Turkish company, jointly with the local firm Stadia Engineering Works Consultant Plc, will supervise and consult on the construction of the bridge, which will replace the existing 60-year-old bridge.