[vatse]

Road 2 from Kombolcha to Mile
This road was probably also built during Italian occupation to connect Addis Abeba to port of Assab. This was main road to Assab until new road between Awash and Mile was built at some time during second half of 20th century. It was main road from Djibouti to Northern Ethiopia (to many parts of Amhara and Tigray Regions) until new road from Mile to Weldyia was completed last year.


kaart7 by vatse, on Flickr

One of the rare tunnels in Ethiopia

Picture 638 by vatse, on Flickr

Road is following valley down from Ethiopian Highlands towards the Afar Depression

Picture 639 by vatse, on Flickr

First part between Kombolcha and Bati is asphalt but the cover is at least 10 years old with some repairs.

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Bati

Picture 649 by vatse, on Flickr

 

[vatse]

From Bati it continues as a gravel road. You can see the Afar Depression (part of Great Rift Valley) at the background.

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Parts of road are really bad with very few maintains. There are many bridges destroyed by flash floods and never repaired and more bridges falling apart with next floods probably.

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[ChrisZwolle]

Hmm, I'm surprised this road is not in better condition, given the economic importance of this road as Ethiopia's most important route to a seaport (Djibouti).

 

[vatse]

You can see the original stone cover with median made with stones at the middle. These parts where stones are without gravel are worst to drive with higher speeds but thanks to this thick cover you can still use the road after more than 70 years after completion.

Picture 669 by vatse, on Flickr


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Last 10 km have been covered with asphalt. I have no idea how old it is but today it's much worse to drive on this part of road than parts with gravel.

Picture 675 by vatse, on Flickr


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And finally the crossroad with Awash-Djibouti road.

Picture 678 by vatse, on Flickr


Picture 679 by vatse, on Flickr

 

[vatse]

Hmm, I'm surprised this road is not in better condition, given the economic importance of this road as Ethiopia's most important route to a seaport (Djibouti).

It's actually not the most important road to Djibouti. Most of the traffic is using road through Awash and it's very good road. But it's still very important road as direct connection from Dessie, Mekele and many more centers of Northern Ethiopia to Djibouti. I was really surprised that this road was worse than some 7 years ago. Specially if you compare it with huge development of other main highways of Ethiopia.

 

[vatse]

Road 18 from Mile to Awash

It's currently part of the main road connecting Djibouti with Addis Abeba and most parts of Ethiopia. Road was probably built during 1960s (could be 50s or 70s also) to bypass high mountain passes between Debre Birhan and Kombolcha on the way to port of Assab. Assab was used as a main port for Addis Abeba until the war with Eritrea which started at 1998. When the border was closed Ethiopians had to find a new connection to the world and this road was connected to port of Djibouti.


kaart8 by vatse, on Flickr


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[vatse]

Picture 693 by vatse, on Flickr

There are also frequent signs giving distance to Awash on this road. Sadly I have only one and not the best picture of these.

Picture 694 by vatse, on Flickr

 

[vatse]

Road 4 from Awash to Addis Abeba

Road from Djibouti is joining road from Dire Dawa (second largest town of Ethiopia) and port of Berbere in Somaliland near Awash. So we can say that this section is the most important road for Ethiopia.


kaart9 by vatse, on Flickr

West from Awash the road is crossing Awash National Park and you can even spot some wildlife not far from road.

Picture 810 by vatse, on Flickr

Metahara. It's known for huge sugar factory.

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Lake Basaka. It was just a small lake and railroad and road was built about 4-5 km north of it. Some 40 years ago the lake started to grow fast and 10 years later it reached the railroad and road. Dams of railroad and road have been elevated as the lake is still growing and currently they are building completely new road to the north of lake. Western part of road dam is already covered with water so the traffic has to use temporary road.

Picture 815 by vatse, on Flickr

There is Djibouti-Addis Abeba railroad at the left of the road. It's haven't been used for many years but most of the railroad is still standing.

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[vatse]

Road starts to rise along the western side of Great Rift Valley.

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One of the typical truck stops at some smaller town.

Picture 822 by vatse, on Flickr


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Construction of motorway east of Adama. This is the point where the first section of motorway will end. Yeah I know that there is almost nothing to see at this photo

Picture 824 by vatse, on Flickr

Adama, the largest town of Oromia Region.

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[vatse]

Monument for the fighters against Derg regime. You can find similar places at every regional center.

Picture 835 by vatse, on Flickr

Construction of the motorway west from Adama. This would be the place for junction with motorway.

Picture 837 by vatse, on Flickr

Motorway would go through the hill at background.

Picture 838 by vatse, on Flickr

New bridge for road. The motorway would run under this bridge.

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West from Adama the road is even more busy with lots of local traffic in addition to trucks on transit.

Picture 843 by vatse, on Flickr

Mojo Dry Port, the main custom depot for goods from Djibouti.

Picture 844 by vatse, on Flickr


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The road is so busy with trucks that it's hard to take good photos. The main road to south running through many towns to Kenyan border is starting from Mojo.

Picture 846 by vatse, on Flickr

 

[vatse]

Picture 847 by vatse, on Flickr

Debre Zeiyt

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Now we have almost reached the urban area of Addis Abeba. It's still some 25 km to the city.

Picture 854 by vatse, on Flickr

One way road near Ducam

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[vatse]

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Outskirts of Addis Abeba

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[vatse]

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Junction of Debre Zeyit road and Ring Road of Addis Abeba

Picture 873 by vatse, on Flickr


Picture 874 by vatse, on Flickr

 

[vatse]

Ring Road of Addis Abeba from Debre Zeyit Road to Bole Road.

This is the southern and oldest part of ring road.

kaart10 by vatse, on Flickr

Access from Debre Zeyit road

Picture 875 by vatse, on Flickr


Picture 876 by vatse, on Flickr

Due to low evening sun the signs are not easy to read.

Picture 877 by vatse, on Flickr


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At this part of road most of the junctions are with ring-road.

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[vatse]

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[vatse]

Exit to Bole Road

Picture 894 by vatse, on Flickr


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[piotr71]

Fantastic report, Vatse! Can't wait for more.

 

[abnet]

Nice pictures vatse :cheers: that ring road in Addis really crowded after the start of Bole road construction.It was not like that when I was in Addis in 2010.

On another note can you post these beautiful pictures on this thread too please ? http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1161779&page=5

If you are busy I can do it if you don't mind.Thanks in advance.

 

[abnet]

Road 2 from Kombolcha to Mile
This road was probably also built during Italian occupation to connect Addis Abeba to port of Assab. This was main road to Assab until new road between Awash and Mile was built at some time during second half of 20th century. Currently it is main road from Djibouti to Northern Ethiopia (to many parts of Amhara and Tigray Regions). So it is quite a busy road for Ethiopian standards with lots of trucks carrying fuel and other goods from Djibouti.

Actually they built an asphalt concrete road which connect Mile to Waldiya some time last year so I think it relieves the congesion on this road probably they rebuilt it since there are lots of industrial investment in Kombolcha city.

 

[vatse]

Fantastic report, Vatse! Can't wait for more.

Thanks! Sadly it's now almost done. Only some pictures from Addis Abeba are waiting.