Construction of Juba-Rumbek highway to resume within two weeks – minister

JUBA – South Sudan government has reached a final agreement with Chinese state firm, Shandong Hi-Speed Group Company, to resume the construction of Juba-Rumbek highway, according to the country’s minister of roads and bridges,  Simon Mijok Mijak.

The construction of the Juba-Rumbek highway, also known as Juba-Bahr el Ghazal highway, was started earlier this year, but was halted when it was washed away by floods and heavy rains in June, triggering dismissal of Mayiik Ayii Deng, then presidential minister, who was the project supervisor.

If completed, the road will be the country’s longest highway before that of Nimule-Juba Highway.

Speaking following a meeting of the infrastructure cluster of the government chaired by Vice-president Taban Deng Gai on Wednesday, Mijok said the government has reached an agreement with Shandong Hi-Speed and the work will start within two weeks.

“Another update also from  road sector is Juba-Rumbek  contract has reached final deal, the team are left to discuss and conclude  Shandong Hi-Speed bill of quality, they are given up to the end of the week to finalize their reports,” Mijak said.

“The infrastructure cluster is willing to implement all resolutions of the road project including Shandong Hi-Speed Company to resume its work as soon as the framework is finalized within two weeks,” he added.

The official revealed that the ministry will relocate the current tower at the airport which is affecting the fuel station.

He added  that the government has secured 30 million loans for maintenance of Juba-Nimule road.

“The second presentation was from the Executive Director of Road Authority on the implementation and the maintenance of Juba-Nimule road   which is going to be maintained by an Egyptian firm,” he said.