Transport Upgrade Set to Boost Everyday Life and Trade

In Ethiopia, the near-completion of the Modjo–Hawassa Expressway is transforming travel for more than 1.5 million people, with the new 202-kilometre route expected to cut journey times by up to 40%.

“This road has already changed how we move,” says Solomon, a freight driver from Hawassa, reflecting broader improvements as Ethiopia builds its second major toll road to international standards with safer layouts, smoother traffic flow, and modern tolling systems.

The expressway is projected to reduce vehicle operating costs by 15–20% and enhance access to schools, healthcare services, markets, and major industrial hubs, such as Hawassa Industrial Park. As part of the Cairo–Cape Town Trans-African Highway, it will also boost regional trade links with Kenya and neighbouring countries, improve climate resilience, and support long-term economic growth across southern Ethiopia.