Algeria announced that a landmark highway built to connect 17 provinces has been completed, with China’s CITIC Construction delivering the final 84-kilometer stretch.
The massive highway spanning from its western border with Morocco to its eastern border with Tunisia, covering a distance of 1,216 kilometers.
Originally slated for completion in 2012, this project had seen delays but now marks a milestone in Algeria’s infrastructure development.
During the inauguration of the final segment of the highway on Saturday, Prime Minister Ayman Ben Abdurrahman emphasized that Algeria now boasts the longest road network on the continental level, comprising 141,000 kilometers, including 9,000 kilometers of expressways.
He called for the active maintenance of road networks to ensure their suitability for vehicular traffic.
Abdurrahman highlighted that this highway serves as an economic and developmental lifeline, underlining the importance of conducting preliminary studies for upcoming road projects while adhering to timelines for successful implementation of new ventures.
The final stretch of this highway connects the city of El Drean in the far east of the country to the Tunisian border, spanning a distance of 84 kilometers.
This highway is part of an economic and trade integration plan outlined by the Arab Maghreb Union, which was intended to connect Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia by road.
However, ongoing disputes between Algeria and Rabat, coupled with the closure of their land borders since 1994, have prevented the completion of this ambitious road network plan.
