Rehabilitation Works Begin on First Layer of Balkh-Sheberghan Road

Rehabilitation work on the first layer of the 25-kilometer Balkh-Sheberghan highway has commenced in northern Afghanistan. The project, overseen by the Ministry of Public Works, aims to upgrade a key transportation corridor that links multiple districts across Balkh and Jowzjan provinces.

Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, a spokesperson for the ministry, confirmed that the infrastructure initiative carries a total budget of 752 million Afghanis. He stated that the construction contract is scheduled for completion within a 26-month timeframe. According to Haqshenas, the upgraded roadway will feature a paved width of 7.3 meters, with 2.5-meter shoulders constructed on both sides to accommodate traffic. The engineering specifications also require the installation of 41 culverts along the route to ensure proper drainage and structural integrity.

The ongoing construction phase has generated local employment, with 163 workers currently engaged in the rehabilitation efforts. Ministry officials indicated that once the project reaches completion, the improved highway will provide a more reliable transit corridor for commercial and passenger vehicles traveling between the two northern provinces. The ministry noted that the initiative is part of broader efforts to maintain and restore critical road networks to support regional connectivity and economic development.