ATIAK – The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has confirmed that all is set for the commencement of the construction of Atiak–Laropi road (66 km).
UNRA spokesperson Allan Ssempebwa said the start of works will begin in March 2020 and that construction time is scheduled for 30 months.
The Atiak-Laropi Road project is situated about 400 km north of the Ugandan capital Kampala.
UNRA says the road is part of a regional, national and international route connecting the remote North-Western region of Uganda and South Sudan to the Ugandan capital at Kampala via the northern regional capital at Gulu.
The 66 km road starts in Atiak at a junction off the Gulu – Atiak – Nimule road and runs in a north-westerly direction traversing dry grasslands with short grass and shrubs through Adjumani town and ends at Umi at the ferry landing site on the River Nile.
STRABAG International, a company contracted to upgrade the road to Atiak – Laropi Road (66 km) to Paved Standard says the existing gravel road will be widened and upgraded to an asphalt road.
It will be widened up to 7,00 m carriageway plus 2 x 2,00 m shoulders. The route leads through about 2.5 km urban and 63.5 km rural area. Drainage works consist of the construction of drains, box culverts, and pipe culverts.
Additionally, a ferry pier has to be built on the Nile bank.
The contract value amounts to € 54 million. The project is co-financed by the European Development Fund.
The project is projected to contribute to improving road transportation and trade facilitation along the abovementioned corridor and improving transport services and agricultural productivity by connecting remote and disadvantaged districts to the main road network.
