Africa-Press – Ethiopia. October 31, 2025 1 minute read Addis Abeba – Ethiopia is nearing the completion of the Modjo–Hawassa Expressway, a 202-kilometer high-standard toll road that forms part of the Cairo–Cape Town Trans-African Highway. The project is expected to significantly cut travel times, reduce vehicle operating costs, and strengthen regional connectivity, according to the World Bank.
Once fully operational, the expressway will reduce travel time by up to 40% and lower vehicle operating costs by 15–20%, improving access to markets, services, and industrial zones for more than 1.5 million people living along the route.
The Modjo–Hawassa Expressway is Ethiopia’s second major toll road and the first to meet international expressway standards. Stretching south of Addis Abeba, it links key urban and industrial centers — Modjo, Batu, Shashamene, and Hawassa — forming a vital corridor for domestic and cross-border trade.
The Batu–Arsi Negele section, financed through a US$295 million World Bank credit, is now over 85% complete as of March 2025. Built to international safety and environmental standards, the road includes dual carriageways, grade-separated interchanges, electronic tolling systems, and dedicated wildlife crossings.
According to the World Bank, the project was developed under comprehensive environmental and social safeguard frameworks, which helped mitigate construction risks, support resettlement planning, and ensure inclusive community engagement.
Beyond reducing travel time and costs, the expressway enhances access to schools, health facilities, and local markets. It also connects agricultural producers and small businesses to major industrial hubs such as Hawassa Industrial Park, which employs over 30,000 workers, and to dry ports and export terminals near Addis Abeba.
The road’s strategic location also supports Ethiopia’s ambition to become a regional logistics hub. As part of the 10,000-kilometer Cairo–Cape Town highway, it will improve freight movement between Ethiopia, Kenya, and other neighboring countries, aligning with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to reduce trade barriers and enhance regional integration.
The World Bank noted that the expressway’s climate-conscious design improves resilience against flooding and erosion, ensuring year-round accessibility. The project also generated local employment during construction and incorporated community feedback throughout its implementation.
By improving logistics efficiency and market access, the Modjo–Hawassa Expressway is expected to deliver long-term social and economic benefits, reinforcing Ethiopia’s infrastructure development goals under its 10-Year Development Plan (2021–2030).
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