RAMALLAH, West Bank - Dr. Mohammed
Istayeh, the Minister of Public Works and Housing, announced Tuesday a
new rehabilitation project of the road between Al Bireh and Qalandia,
the main transport artery linking Ramallah and Jerusalem. At the groundbreaking
ceremony in Ramallah, Dr. Istayeh thanked the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) for funding the project, which is considered
a priority initiative by the Palestinian Authority.
The rehabilitation of the Qalandia road
is one of the seven main road projects funded under the USAID's $18 million
road construction program, which aims to improve transportation, create
jobs, and support the development of a sustainable economy in the West
Bank.
The improvement of the 2,5 kilometer section of the road will include building a strong foundation with three new base-course layers, paving the road, constructing side-walks and a new storm water network to safely remove rainwater from the road. Pedestrian safety is the key feature in the design of the new road.
After the completion of the construction, the new road is expected to enhance the quality of life of thousands of Palestinian people traveling between Ramallah and Jerusalem every day.
In recent years, several attempts were made to rehabilitate the Qalandia road by various donors, including the Japanese and Danish Aid Missions, but they failed to proceed due to problems with the security situation. The new American initiative represents a successful combination of timing and coordination between USAID and the Jerusalem municipality.
The American people have spent more than $1.7 billion in the West Bank and Gaza to combat poverty, create jobs, improve education, build roads and water systems, construct and equip medical clinics, and promote good governance.