Construction has officially begun on the Mieso–Dire Dawa Expressway, a major infrastructure project designed to strengthen Ethiopia’s road network and regional trade links. Spanning 144 kilometers, the toll road will connect Dire Dawa with the Oromia and Somali regions, serving as a key section of the Ethio–Djibouti Transport Corridor, also known as the Eastern Economic Corridor.
The four-year project is being implemented in two phases under the management of the Ethiopian Roads Administration (ERA). It is jointly executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Sichuan Road and Bridge Group, with financial backing from the World Bank. Once completed, the new expressway will offer a faster and safer alternative to existing routes, cutting transport costs and reducing travel times between Ethiopia’s inland cities and ports.
Economic growth
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Dire Dawa, Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh emphasized the importance of modern transport infrastructure for national development. He noted that over 90% of Ethiopia’s goods and passenger movements depend on road transport, making such investments critical to economic growth and improved living standards. The expressway is also expected to enhance social, economic, and political ties between the Oromia and Somali regions.
CCECC General Manager Chen Sichang highlighted the project as a milestone in China–Ethiopia cooperation, stressing that 75 percent of the workforce will be recruited locally. Ethiopian engineers will receive on-the-job mentorship and training to strengthen domestic capacity in road construction and management.
The expressway is part of Ethiopia’s broader goal to improve logistics efficiency, with ambitions to reduce travel time from regional hubs to seaports to a single day within the next decade. Officials say the new route will provide a significant boost to Ethiopia’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).