Expected construction of the road from Rukomo through Gicumbi is expected to kick off in the second half of 2015.The project is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The strategic highway provides alternative route for international flows along Northern Corridor to and from Eastern and Northern provinces of Rwanda as well as eastern regions of Democratic Republic of Congo.
AfDB will provide $74.47 million loan and the government will avail $4.52 million for the 51.54 kilometers-long road expected to enhance mobility, which is expected to be ready in December 2019.
The section is part of 125 kilometers Base Nyagatare road on the Northern Corridor linking Rwanda to Mombasa port in Kenya and is one of the priority projects retained under East African Community transport strategy.
The strategic highway provides alternative route for international flows along Northern Corridor to and from Eastern and Northern provinces of Rwanda as well as eastern regions of Democratic Republic of Congo.
The AfDB loan will be paid over a period of 20 years with five years grace period and is to be repaid until 2040. The project’s target is to reduce travel time on Base-Gicumbi-Rukomo section by 67 per cent to 1 hour from three hours.
“The journey time on the Base-Gicumbi-Rukomo-Nyagatare road is at least five hours in the dry season and over 12 hours in the rainy season with the risk of non-arrival at the final destination,” said African Development Bank in a report.
