Ethiopia Launches Construction of 144km Mieso-Dire Dawa Expressway, a major project designed to boost trade, cut transport costs, and improve connectivity in East Africa. The new road will link Dire Dawa with Ethiopia’s Oromia and Somali regions, strengthening the Ethio-Djibouti Transport Corridor.
Project Factsheet: Mieso-Dire Dawa Expressway
-
Length: 144 kilometres.
-
Cost: $443 million, funded through a World Bank loan.
-
Contractors: China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Sichuan Road and Bridge Group.
-
Timeline: Scheduled for completion in four years.
-
Management: Ethiopian Roads Administration (ERA).
-
Workforce: 75 percent of employees will be Ethiopian, with skills transfer from Chinese engineers.
-
Economic Role: Part of the Ethio-Djibouti Transport Corridor, also known as the Eastern Economic Corridor.
The expressway is being built in two phases and will be tolled once complete. It is expected to offer a faster and safer alternative to the current road network. As part of Ethiopia’s long-term development plans, the project highlights the government’s push to modernise road infrastructure and reduce transport bottlenecks.
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh said road development is a critical enabler for national growth. He noted that over 90 percent of goods and passenger movement in Ethiopia happens by road. By reducing costs and time, the Mieso-Dire Dawa route will support trade, market access, and social integration.
A key link in East Africa
The Construction of 144km Mieso-Dire Dawa Expressway project is vital for the Eastern Economic Corridor, which connects Ethiopia to Djibouti’s ports. These ports handle most of Ethiopia’s international trade, making the corridor essential for the country’s economy. Once completed, the new road will cut travel times from hours to minutes along key stretches, ensuring smoother movement of goods from port to central Ethiopia.
The road is also strategically important for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By linking Ethiopia’s regions and integrating with the Ethio-Djibouti railway, the expressway will boost competitiveness and open new opportunities for businesses.
Mieso-Dire Dawa Expressway economic and social benefits
Officials stress that the new expressway will not only reduce transport costs but also create jobs and expand markets. About 75 percent of the workforce will come from Ethiopia. Moreover, Chinese firms will train local engineers and workers. As a result, this skills transfer will strengthen Ethiopia’s long-term transport capacity.
The expressway will connect Dire Dawa, Ethiopia’s second-largest city, to the Oromia and Somali regions. This will improve regional integration, promote social interaction, and encourage investment in agriculture, trade, and manufacturing. Communities along the route will benefit from easier access to markets and services.
The project also symbolises growing ties between Ethiopia and China. Chen Sichang, general manager of CCECC, said the expressway represents cooperation, joint development, and shared prosperity. He added that mentorship and training programmes will help Ethiopian workers gain international engineering skills.
Once operational, the Mieso-Dire Dawa Expressway will play a crucial role in Ethiopia’s development vision. It will make it possible to transport goods from regional centres to Djibouti’s ports in less than a day. This will reduce delays, increase competitiveness, and support Ethiopia’s position as a rising hub for trade in the Horn of Africa.
