Roads in Sudan: Upgrading part of Khartoum / P.S Link

EL GEILI - ATBARA ROAD UPGRADING

The Sudan has a large percentage of its land described as dry or partly dry, but despite that, the country has abundant land for agricultural activities, most of which is not utilized. Land along the Nile valley in Sudan is utilized to a larger extent more than rain-fed lands away from the Nile. Shortages in capital and trained manpower, lack of appropriate technology and poor infrastructure, including transport, are the main reasons behind the low utilization of agricultural resources. Rail and river modes were developed in line with the country's social and economic development, with agriculture as the main sector. Roads came at a late stage in economic development and shortages in the capacities of the deteriorating transport systems; The 1970s witnessed starting road construction that is now catering for more than 90% of freight and passenger traffic in the country.

The project [i]

The project is upgrading 269 on the trunk road joining the Red seaports with the country hinterland. The project should add a second lane in each direction to provide two lanes for traffic in each direction between El Geili and Atbara. The section is also part of the northbound road from Khartoum to Abu Hamad and links, across the bridges on the Nile, with the Northern state and further to Egypt's borders. It is noted that the project route at present has the highest density of traffic as almost all the imports of the country and a large part of its exports pass over this route.

The project starts in Khartoum State and travels 40 km northward within its boundaries. This part of Khartoum State is originally the agricultural source of vegetable supplies to the city. The oil refinery nearby enhanced the development of small industries and services associated with the trucking business. Simultaneously, the proximity of the Nile and fertile lands gave this part of the project its general characteristic as an agriculturally based area. The road travels further north over 249 km within the Nile State boundaries, making it a directly affected area by the project.

Project beneficiaries

The import/export traffic development is the main target of the road upgrading. Truck time savings will lower operating cost, and the Nile state where the road has its longest itinerary will get its share of the project economic benefits.

The road project objectives

The road project aims to increase traffic speeds, provide higher road capacity, and improve safety limit on the road. Improved speeds on the link will improve the clearance capacity of loads from the port where congestion has been for long. The project aims to improve safety limit along the highway's high traffic section. The project will relieve congestion at bottlenecks in and out of towns and facilitate diverted traffic from bridges and feeder roads within the Nile state and enhance its agricultural and industrial development.

Traffics on the project section of the Khartoum - Port Sudan highway include the following categories:

1. Imports from Port Sudan accounting for the main part of loads on the road

2. Exports of Sudan produce, including agricultural products, livestock and oil

3. Local traffic within the road zone and other parts of the country.

4. Increasing containerization import traffic following the international trend

Road traffic catchment area

The road Khartoum- Port Sudan is an import/export corridor and shares this important with the railway forming dual supply lines for Sudan international trade. The Nile State hosts a long part of the corridor that passes on its eastern part and links its main towns of Shendi, Ed Damer and Atbara. The road's role extends beyond that by connecting agricultural areas and industrial sites on both sides of the Nile through feeder roads and bridges across the Nile. The road from Atbara to Berber and Abu Hamad links the Marawi Dam lake area with the rest of the State and other parts of the country.

The western part of the Nile State had no rail link, and most areas have no road link to Khartoum. At present, Shendi and Um Alteyor bridges connect the area to the main road. The bridge at Berber provides another outlet for the state's western part. The road links on the west and bridges will be collectors for produce and feeders to the project and will facilitate the diversion of traffic from the agriculturally rich west bank to the highway for export via Port Sudan.

Tourism provides a promising area for development in the state. The country is well known for its ancient civilizations. The Nile state host one of the famous Merowatic civilization with toms, pyramids and pillars witnessing the glory of Sudanese kings and queens. A rest house and cafes are along the main road near Al Bijrawya, Nagaa, and Al Mosowart as well as close to Alsabaloga cataract. Access to the touristic sites is by earth tracks. Feeder asphalt or gravel roads are needed to provide easy access to the historic sites and link them to the road project.

[i] This is an outline of the report prepared (Sulieman Abbas) within a techno-economic study for Newtech consultancy Group.