The Equipment Ministry of Tunisia will issue an international tender before the end of June for the construction of a highway linking Gabès, Medenine and Ras Jedir
The project is worth TNZ 1 million (US$626.2 million) with TNZ 550 million (US$345.50 million) allocated to the Gabes-Medenine highway while TNZ 450 million (US$281.22 million) allocated to the Medenine-Ras Jedir stretch.
The Gabès-Ras Jedir part of the highway will be financed by the Tunisian state jointly with the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), while the African Development Bank (AfDB) is funding the Gabès-Medenine section.
Lotfi Chatti, executive in charge of communication at the Equipment Ministry, said the highway would cover a 180km distance, with an additional 19km extension at the National Road N°1 level.
The project is expected to be completed by 2017 and generate 2,000 jobs.
The plan comprises six feeders at the west and south level of Gabès, Djerba, Zarzis, Enfeytiya and Ben Guerdane, in addition to 70 bridges, 172 hydraulic structures on wadis and three resting and facility areas on both ways.
The construction plan has been made in a way that it allows Tunisian public works companies to participate in the infrastructure development.
Work on a 70km stretch of the western highway, Oued Zarga-Bousalem, started in May 2012 by means of investments worth TNZ 430 million (US$268.60 million).
The 155km Sfax-Gabès highway, worth TNZ 817 million (US$509.30 million), is also under construction.
