Expansion works for Kigali-Muhanga road are expected to commence in December, and it will have a part featuring four lanes from the current two, as well as climbing lanes to ease traffic, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Olivier Kabera, said on January 13.
He provided the update during a session in which the Lower House’s Committee on Governance Affairs and Gender was analysing the report of the Office of Ombudsman for the fiscal year 2023/2024.
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Kabera said that part of the road – from Nyabugogo (in Kigali) to Ruyenzi (in Kamonyi District) will be expanded to four lanes, adding that there are parts of it that will have climb lanes for trucks.
There will also be drains, bicycle lanes, sidewalks for pedestrians, and climbing lanes for trucks so that they do not hinder the movement of other vehicles on ascents.
"Therefore, we want to set up an additional lane on the road ascents which will be used by trucks only so that us who use other cars be able to move fast,” he said, adding that the project includes expropriation to pave the way for its implementation.
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On November 13, 2024, Parliament approved a law ratifying a $120 million – approx. Rwf166 billion based on current exchange rates – loan agreement for the project dubbed upgrading and rehabilitation of Kigali-Muhanga road project (45 kilometres).
The financing agreement was signed between the Government of Rwanda and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (commonly known as the Korea Eximbank) — the financier — on September 13, 2023, in Busan, South Korea.
According to information from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the loan to be repaid within 40 years with a 15-year grace period, at a 0.01 per cent interest rate, aligns with supporting the development of Rwanda’s infrastructure sector.
The Kigali-Muhanga road project has components including the rehabilitation of the road at 45 kilometres, and the expansion of its 12.2 kilometres to four lanes. Currently, the entire road has two lanes, shows information from MINECOFIN.
In addition, the project will include the construction of 11.9 kilometres of additional lanes (climb lanes) for heavy trucks in areas where the road has ascents (climbs) so that they do not slow down traffic.