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There were highs
and lows regarding the Gotera Interchange Construction Project this
week. On the one hand, city officials signed the agreement with its
Chinese handlers, marking the launch of the project. On the other, three
workers tragically died during preliminary demolition work. |
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City Launches
Gotera Project, Three Workers Killed |
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The Addis Abeba City Roads Administration (AACRA) signed a contract
with Shanghai Construction General Company to implement the Gotera
Interchange Construction Project, on Friday November 10, 2006 at the
Addis Abeba City Administration, a day after three workers were
killed during demolition work.
The design for
the project, worth 11.5 million Br, was done by East China
Investigation and Design Institute and was submitted to AACRA in
October 2006.
As the Chinese
government is funding both design and construction, the
Administration issued a tender calling on Chinese companies to
participate. Shanghai won and received 96.117 million Br to oversee
the Project. |
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Wubishet
Berhanu (Ph d), general manager of the Addis Abeba City
Administration and Board chairman of AACRA said that the completion
of this project would not only bring better traffic flow by reducing
traffic congestion, but will also benefit the communities and change
the image of the city.
The week long
demolition process needed to begin the Project turned sour when
three workers died after being crushed by rocks that collapsed on
them while demolishing the former Wereimano Hotel.
Gezahegn Akalu,
an investigating constable with the Kirkos Police Department told
Fortune that the accident occurred at 6:00am Thursday.
The police
arrived 30 minutes later to find Fasil Atnafu, 38 and Tedaru Eineto,
25 already dead. The third worker, Teheleku Temesgen, 32, was rushed
to Black Lion Hospital, but died on the way from head and back
injuries.
Sources told
Fortune that 103 kebele and Rented House Agency homes and more
than 50 private homes will be demolished in the Kirkos sub-city
District for the Project. Tenants were to be provided with
condominiums that they could purchase. |
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But since the
construction on these condos is not finished; affected tenants have
been given three months of rent money, calculated on the rent they
were paying before their eviction. Owners of private owned homes are
to be provided land and compensated in cash.
Operators of
the Total Fuel Depot (including the former Mobil depot), have
requested 40,000sqm of land in the Akaki-Kaliti District in
compensation. The Addis Abeba City Administration is presently
reviewing their request.
Fekade Haile,
General Manager of AACRA, said that the road and bridge construction
will be 8,128.5 meters long with an interchange that will be
suspended over 40ht. He said the design will ensure that the train
tracks and the junction will not meet at any point, lightening the
traffic jams that have been known to be horrendous.
Although the
Chinese government is funding the Project, Fekade said that the City
Administration will cover all compensation expenses for those being
removed from their businesses and homes.
The
construction, which is intended to begin in one month, will take 18
months and will be finalized by June 2008. The Chinese government
will then hand over the road to Ethiopia as a new millennium gift.
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By
FEVEN CHANE and WUDINEH ZENEBE
FORTUNE STAFF WRITERS |
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Back to Addis
Fortune News |
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