On December 31, 2025, the main carriageway of the Ethiopia IR (Iteya–Robe) Highway Upgrading and Reconstruction Project, undertaken by China Railway No.3 Engineering Group under CREC, was officially opened to traffic.
Located in a subtropical highland climate zone, the Ethiopia IR Highway Upgrading and Reconstruction Project is a major transport artery linking Asala, an important agricultural production area in Oromia State, with Adama, a key agricultural product processing city. The project has a total length of 75.6 kilometers. China Railway No.3 Engineering Group is responsible for the reconstruction of the existing pavement along the entire route, as well as the construction of subgrade works, bridges and culverts, urban ancillary facilities, and supporting drainage works.
After the opening of the IR Highway main carriageway, the travel time from Robe Town to Adama City has been reduced from the original minimum of 6 hours to 1.5 hours, significantly improving transport conditions along the corridor and enhancing the efficiency of agricultural product distribution. The project is of great significance in promoting agricultural income growth, increasing farmers’ earnings, and advancing agricultural deep processing and regional trade development.
