Xinhua
17-JUL-98
ADDIS ABABA (July 17) XINHUA - The Ethiopian Road Authority said that the Dire Dawa-Dewele Road that connects Djibouti and Ethiopia is under construction.
A local newspaper report Friday quoted Debebe Gizaw, Head of Public Relations of the Ethiopian Road Authority, as saying that the road which had been used by small vehicles until recently is now crowded by about 700 heavy vehicles.
The increase in traffic is due to the increased use of the Djibouti Port by Ethiopia following its border dispute with Eritrea.
After the outbreak of Ethio-Eritrea border dispute in May, Ethiopia has diverted from Assab Port of Eritrea to the port of Djibouti as its outlet. About 300 Ethiopian trucks are moving 6,000 tons a day through Djibouti, said an Ethiopian government spokesperson in an earlier statement.