Flags of the U.S. and Afghanistan
USAID/Afghanistan: From the American People

Infrastructure

Objective: Expand and improve access to economic and social infrastructure

Program Photo Gallery

Governor Mangal speaking to press at the dam.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Governor Mangal speaking to press at the dam.

Photo of rough gravel road

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Busses and trucks had a difficult time driving on the rough road between Ghazni in Ghazni Province and Sharan in Paktika Province in southeastern Afghanistan.

Photo of difficult driving terrain

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The mountainous Panjshir Valley was isolated over several decades. The road stretches through difficult terrain.

Photo of bicyclists riding on paved road

Photo: Idrees Ilham/USAID/Afghanistan

Every day over 400 bicyclists ride over the Pul-e-Alam road south of Kabul. Many of the riders are students going to-and-from school.

Photo of PRT airstrip

Photo: Jennifer Ragland USAID/PRT

PRT Air is the first flight to take off from the newly constructed airstrip in Qalat.

Photo of mosque, bridge, road

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The Provisional Reconstruction Team and military members of the PRT work together to get a bridge built in a difficult location close to the community mosque.

Photo of paved road

Photo: Photo: USAID

USAID rebuilt a key portion of Afghanistan's national road system which links its two largest cities and economic centers.

photo of paved road

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The newly reconstructed 64 km Ghazni to Sharan Road has successfully decreased the travel time from four hours to one hour between the two communities.

photo of paved road in Panjshir Valley

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The completion of the paved road in Panjshir Valley has reduced travel time from Kabul and provided people a chance to enjoy fresh mountain air and the Panjshir River on weekends.

photo of men with shovels digging canals

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

“Men would come every day to work and be happy to work because we are making our land better and we have a chance to begin again.” –A returned refugee

photo of farmer and child in field with produce

Photo: Matt Herrick

Nadir, a farmer in Baghram, says his irrigation has improved significantly in 2003, even at 6.5km from the Ghorband dams.

photo of boy in truck on road

Photo: USAID/Jennifer Lindsey

"We like the road because now it's easy for cars… and easy for us to get to school. Not only my parents but all the villagers are very happy with the new road because we can get sick people to the clinic faster. And now, because the road is paved, there is no longer so much dust“ -Asif Haseebkhan, 10 years old, Durani Village

photo of family standing outside on road

Photo: USAID/Matt Herrick

"Now my children can walk safely and easily to school. The cars move faster and the drive is smoother. Now it’s much easier for me to take my fruit and vegetables to the market. This paved road is very good“ - Sultan Mohammad and his six children, walking along the road from their village of Andar to attend a wedding in Shahkabul, Wardak Province.

photo of man standing next to taxi

Photo: USAID/Jennifer Lindsey

"Thank you to everybody who helped to build our road. It is very good. What used to take one hour to drive, now takes only 10 minutes. Before, it was so bumpy and dusty. And we used to travel at 30 km/hour, at most. Now we can go up to 110 km. /hour. This is very good for my business.” - Noor Rahman, Taxi Driver, Wardak Province

Photo of boys singing at opening ceremony

Photo: Mohammad Afzal Muhsini, OIEE, USAID/Afghanistan

Students sing the Afghan national anthem during the Faizabad Connector Road opening ceremony in Jawzjan province's Faizabad district.

work on an industrial park

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Work commences on an industrial park.

Building a retaining wall in Badakhshan

Photo: USAID/IRP

A worker builds a retaining wall during the construction of the Kishim to Fayzabad Road, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. Winding through mountains and rough terrain, the road will facilitate transportation in the remote northern province of Badakhshan.

girls schools construction in progress

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

USAID continues to support construction for girl's schools around Afghanistan.

girls schools construction in progress

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

USAID supports construction for girl's schools around Afghanistan.

A construction worker at the Sabawoon Feed Mill

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

A construction worker at the Sabawoon Feed Mill.

laying the school

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Laborers worked overnight to avoid disrupting daytime school operation.

students currently study outside

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The new school will provide classroom space for students who currently must take exams outside.

Artist’s rendition of Ghazi School after construction.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Artist’s rendition of Ghazi School after construction.

Ghazi High School Construction Team

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Members of the construction team worked overnight to lay the school’s foundation.

Newly installed lights increase security at the Garmsir Bazaar.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Newly installed lights increase security at the Garmsir Bazaar.

touring Kajaki dam

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kajaki engineers explain to journalists how the new turbines will function.

signing contracts to maintain the country

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Afghan businessmen sign contracts to maintain the country's roads.

Keshim to Faizabad Road excavation

Photo: USAID/IRP

The Keshim to Faizabad Road, under construction in Badakhshan, is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. Winding through mountains, the road will facilitate transportation over rough terrain.

Kajaki Dam in Helmand province.

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kajaki Dam in Helmand province.

ribbon-cutting ceremony in Tagab

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Representatives from Tagab’s 80 villages attend a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the beginning of road construction.

Mendrawar to Qarghayi Road

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

The Mendrawar to Qarghayi Road serves nearly 105,000 citizens of Laghman Province.

Charikar-Panjshir Road gabion baskets

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Workers protect against erosion during the construction of the Charikar-Panjshir Road.

North West Kabul substation, Afghanistan

Photo: Wakil Naseri

North West Kabul substation, Afghanistan.

Afghan boys, Kabul

Photo: Lizette Potgieter

Afghan boys huddle around a fire, Kabul.

North West Kabul substation

Photo: Wakil Naseri

سب ستیشن شمال غرب، افغانستان

North West Kabul Substation

Photo: USAID/Wakil Naseri

Power flows to Kabul through the North West Kabul Substation.

Trucks bring drilling equipment to Shibirghan

Photo: USAID/IRP/Steve Pearce

USAID is conducting gas field exploration in Jawzjan Province to investigate ways to provide electricity to the Afghan people. In March 2009, a convoy of 36 trucks loaded with 550 tons of drilling equipment travelled 3,000 km to reach the Shibirghan gas fields.

Residents wait for convoy in Shibirghan

Photo: USAID/IRP Steve Pearce

Shibirghan residents and government officials welcome the much anticipated convoy.

Shibirghan convoy

Photo: USAID/IRP Steve Pearce

A convoy of 36 trucks loaded with 550 tons of drilling equipment travelled 3,000 km to reach Shibirghan gas fields.

Paving on Kishim-Fayzabad Road

Photo: USAID/LBG/B&V Joint Venture

Paving begins in Fayzabad.

Kajaki Dam

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Kajaki Dam in Hilmand Province.

Inaugurating the power line to Kabul

Photo: Advanced Engineering Associates Intl.

President Hamid Karzai and Minister of Energy and Water Ismail Khan inaugurating the power line from Uzbekistan to Kabul.

Distributing relief aid

Photo: USAID/SPR-SEA

Shirzad families receive earthquake relief aid.

Karzai energizes substation

Photo: USAID/IRP

President Karzai energizes a substation to begin the transfer of electricity from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan.

Student engineers

Photo: USAID/AECP

The first class of engineers improve their knowledge of Afghanistan’s energy sector.

Water conference 2009

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Water conference participants, including Minister of Energy and Water Mohammed Ismail Khan, discuss sustainable water use.

Sanitation agreement signing

Photo: USAID/CAWSA

USAID Rep. Eng. Gul Afghan Saleh noted the U.S. Government’s commitment to strengthen Afghan institutions.

Launching Kabul Power Plant

Photo: USAID/Dan Wilkinson

U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, President Hamid Karzai, and Minister of Energy and Water Ismail Khan celebrate the launch of Tarakhil Power Plant.

School construction

Photo: USAID/UNOPS

Construction begins on a high school in Kabul.

DABS launch with Amb. E. Anthony Wayne

Photo: U.S. Embassy/Kabul

Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne (seated, second from right), Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs, joined Afghan officials (from left to right: Minister of Urban Development Pashtun, Minister of Economy Shams, Minister of Energy and Water Khan and Minister of Finance Zakhilwal), and other international donors to announce the Afghan Government’s launch of a new utility corporation on September 30, 2009 in Kabul.

Solar panels along K-F Road

Photo: Lizette Potgieter

The construction of the Kishim-Fayzabad Road has brought prosperity – and electricity – to the village of Gunbaz Balocha. Solar panels now dot the rooftops of many homes.

GMIC briefing with MEW

Photo: Government Media and Information Center

Minister of Energy and Water Mohammad Ismail Khan briefs the media at the Government Media and Information Center.

Fans and lights switched on

Photo: USAID/ADP/E

Fans and lights are switched on for the first time in village head Malik Mir Alam Khan’s guest room.

Naiabad Switchyard

Photo: Advanced Engineering Associates Intl.

The Naiabad Switchyard is a key component of the transmission line that brings electricity to major cities in Afghanistan.

Potable water in rural communities

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

Potable water supply is a fundamental public service for rural Afghans and contributes to improved health and quality of life.

Sardar Kabuli Girls

Photo: USAID/Afghanistan

In late October 2009, USAID laid the massive earthquake-resistant foundation for Sardar Kabuli Girls' High School. When completed, the school will serve more than 4,000 girls in Afghanistan's capital.

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Infrastructure

The building and refurbishing of infrastructure boosts economic growth and agricultural yields, connects rural Afghans to services, and provides schools, clinics, and courthouses for its citizens.

FY02-06 Spending: $1556 M
FY07 Budget Plan:  $562 M
(incl. supplemental request)

Related Links

Afghanistan Energy Information Center

Accomplishments

Regional Roads (Ring Road, over 700 km as of Aug 2007)

  • Kabul-Kandahar-Herat highway – Over 60% of Afghans will live within 50 km of the Ring Road when it is completed, making it critical for trade.
  • 75% of employees working on this project are Afghans gaining technical expertise.

Provincial & District Roads (over 800 km as of Aug 2007)

  • Kabul, Gardez, Kandahar, Jalalabad, Herat, Mazar, Kunduz & Bamyan.

Power Generation

  • Transmission Capacity
  • Plants in Kandahar, Lashkar Gah & Qalat over $6.5 million per year for O&M
  • Over $125 Million Emergency Fuel Supply since Nov. 2003 for Kabul, Kandahar, Lashkar Gah & Qalat
  • Over $150 Million dedicated to Kajaki Dam construction

 

Last updated November 16, 2009

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