Name and Location
Gitega–Nyangungu–Ngozi road construction project, Burundi.

Project Description
The Gitenga–Nyangungu–Ngozi road construction project area extends from the central to the northern region of Burundi and is home to an estimated 775 000 people. Gitega and Ngozi (the administrative headquarters of the provinces through which the project road runs) are the country’s second- and third-largest towns respectively.

The project is a result of detailed studies undertaken in 2009, which indicated the need for investment in the road project.

The road development is divided into two phases.

Value
The total cost has not been disclosed.

Duration
Project activities will be executed between August 2011 to March 2015.

Client
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
African Development Bank (AfDB) (finance).

Latest Developments
In late June, the AfDB approved a grant of $67.23-million in funding for Phase 2 of the project to improve the Gitega–Nyangungu–Ngozi road. Of the total, $51.22-million is provided from the resources of the AfDB’s Fragile States Facility and $16.01-million from the African Development Fund, the bank’s concessional arm.

The new finance is planned to fund the 50 km Gitega–Nyangungu segment of the road.

Phase 2 is a follow-up of Phase 1, which was approved by the bank in September 2010, and covered the 30 km Nyangungu–Ngozi segment of the road. The second phase will cover the development and asphalting of the Gitega–Nyangungu segment, in addition to the rehabilitation of 22 km of rural roads, the building of pedestrian bridges, the creation of a heavy vehicles parking lot at Gitega, as well as the development of socioeconomic and commercial infrastructure.

On Budget and on Time?
The project is already in progress.

Contact Details for Project Information
Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works, tel +257 22 2940/0959, fax +257 25 3695 or email odr@usan-u.net.