Construction works along the Kigali-Gatuna highway are expected to start soon, the State Minister in charge of Transport, Dr. Alex Nzahabwanimana, has disclosed.

In a telephone interview, Nzahabwanimana told The New Times that plans are underway to award the tender.

"Everything is set, we are only waiting to award the tender, which will be very soon,” Nzahabwanimana noted.

The Kigali-Gatuna road project is part of the 600km road network supposed to be constructed over a period of seven years.

Others are Base-Nyagatare road (130km), which passes through Gicumbi District and the 130km Ngoma-Nyanza road, which connects the Eastern and the Southern provinces.

Other roads include the 103km of new tarmac roads set to be constructed in phases, in the City of Kigali to the tune of Rwf 52 billion, with 46 kilometres already complete and another 34.5km to be constructed this financial year.

The construction of the Gatuna road, which connects Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern DRC, to the Northern Corridor, was welcomed by drivers who use the route.

"We spend many hours along Gatuna-Kigali because the road is in a sorry state. This is one of the busiest routes used by the business community in the country and rehabilitating it will facilitate the timely delivery of goods from the Mombasa port,” Charles Mugabo, a truck driver said.

Meanwhile, the construction of the 93km Kigali-Ruhengeri and Cyangugu-Ntenderi roads will be completed by early next year, the Minister pointed out.

"The Kigali-Ruhengeri road is now 50 percent complete and we hope by March next year, it will be 100 percent,” he added.

The road network covers about 14,000 kilometres countrywide, with about 2,700km of the roads connecting borders, provinces, tourist destinations and districts, among others.

About 1,000km of the road network is in Kigali City, with only less than 300km tarmacked.

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