By Charles Lotara, SSMJ Juba, Tuesday (October 4, 2024) – The construction of the Juba-Nadapal road, which came to a sudden halt in June 2023 due to funding constraints, is set to resume in December 2024, thanks to the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority . Speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the Northern Corridor Executive Committee in Juba on Monday, the Executive Secretary of the regional body, Dr. John Deng Diar Diing, announced that the design for the 341
By Charles Lotara, SSMJ
Juba, Tuesday (October 4, 2024) – The construction of the Juba-Nadapal road, which came to a sudden halt in June 2023 due to funding constraints, is set to resume in December 2024, thanks to the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority .
Speaking at an extraordinary meeting of the Northern Corridor Executive Committee in Juba on Monday, the Executive Secretary of the regional body, Dr. John Deng Diar Diing, announced that the design for the 341.2km road—a major infrastructure project connecting South Sudan to Kenya through six counties—will be finalized by the end of this year.
Dr. Deng explained that consultants hired by the World Bank , through the Multi-Donor Trust Fund, are currently reviewing the road's design. This review takes into account key factors such as traffic volume and topography, which will influence the architectural plans.
"I think, as we speak right now, engineers are on the road counting the vehicles and looking at the soil condition and samples. So we believe by the end of this year, the designs will be ready. And we shall focus next year on mobilizing donors to avail resources for the construction phase," he said.
The project to upgrade the road from gravel to bitumen standard was first conceived after South Sudan gained independence in 2011.
This road, crucial for transport connectivity between Juba County in Central Equatoria State and Torit, Budi, and Kapoeta counties in Eastern Equatoria State, faced delays following the crises of 2013 and 2016, which scared away contractors and forced a temporary suspension of activities.
Dr. Deng noted that the Northern Corridor Secretaries' initiative brought the World Bank back on board to fund both the improvement of river transport and the review of the Juba-Nadapal road's design.
He emphasized the importance of organizing a donor conference to secure the necessary funding for the road’s construction, viewing it as a milestone development for South Sudan.
"Juba-Nadapal Road has a history that is almost as long as the age of this country. In 2011, when the country was gearing up for independence, USAID committed to developing the Juba-Nimule road. The World Bank took leadership in developing the Juba-Nadapal road. The designs were done, but then unfortunately, in 2013, when the country got into a political crisis, the donors left," Deng explained.
The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority conducted a transport assessment in 2022 to comprehend South Sudan's transport system and its priorities.
"Everything was a priority. And so we were able to align all the transport priorities in the country. We called donors, and we presented them. So they were committed to opening up Juba-Nadapal, being the key opening route to the international market through Kenya. We engaged the World Bank to release the money to the project’s account," he added.
Dr. Deng also mentioned that border issues had delayed progress. However, resources were allocated to resolve the dispute between the two countries, with the ministers from both nations making a political proclamation earlier this year to settle the matter.
While Kenya has completed construction on its section of the road, South Sudan is now in charge of the Nadapal-Juba segment.
According to the Final Resettlement Action Plan Report, published in 2013 by Australian private consultant SMEC International, the project covers 375 hectares of land and traverses six counties (Juba, Torit, Kapoeta East, Kapoeta South, Budi, and Ikotos), with a total population of 838,555.
Estimates place the number of affected households at 218, home to approximately 1,218 people. Additionally, around 145 small businesses along the road project—accounting for over 30% of household incomes—will be impacted, along with 517 farmlands that will be partially affected.
To address these disruptions, a compensation plan is in place. At least $1.4 million has been allocated for the implementation of the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plan in the affected Bomas.
The report acknowledges that the $29 million road project will only marginally impact local houses and farmlands without significantly disrupting their production and livelihood systems.
However, the resettlement plan's design took into account feedback from these communities.
It includes compensation for potential losses of property, assets, and income, with opportunities for long-term development factored into the plan.