Infrastructure
Objective: Expand and improve access to economic and social infrastructure
Program FAQs
How many roads has USAID built in Afghanistan?
Between 2001 and 2007, USAID completed the construction of 1,700 km of paved roads and 1,100 km of gravel roads.
What types of roads does USAID build in Afghanistan?
USAID builds three kinds of roads in Afghanistan: primary roads, secondary roads and tertiary roads. The primary roads, such as Kabul’s main Ring Road, are called “regional highways”, connecting Afghanistan with its neighbors and forming the largest road network in the country.
USAID’s secondary roads, called “national highways”, connect the capital to Afghanistan’s provincial capitals. All regional and national highways are paved.
And finally, the tertiary roads built by USAID are called “provincial roads” and “district roads” and connect district centers to other district centers and to provincial capitals. These roads are generally have a gravel surface.
How does USAID decide what type of road to build?
When making decisions about roads, USAID follows the guidelines established in the 2006 Road Sector Master Plan. This document, created by the Government of Afghanistan with assistance from the Asian Development Bank, establishes standards and specifications for roads and has been adopted by all major donors in the country.
In addition, USAID’s primary goal in road construction in Afghanistan is to meet the needs of local communities. To achieve this, USAID also consults with representatives from provincial development councils to make joint decisions about the roads, including length and type. Together, they determine the best and most cost-effective strategy for creating roads to increase commerce, security and political stability.
What is the cost of building a road?
USAID-financed road costs vary considerably depending on road type, terrain, security costs and other factors. However, a rough average for USAID asphalt roads is $548,000 per kilometer, while gravel roads cost an average $180,000 per kilometer. USAID’s most expensive road, the 4-lane Kabul Airport road, was $1.6 million per kilometer due to road width, capacity for constant and heavy traffic and thick asphalting. In addition, the urban road required contractors to import materials and provide substantial security to stabilize the construction environment. Conversely, USAID’s least expensive road, the Shega District Road in Nangarhar province, cost USAID only $47,000 per kilometer, due to the simplicity of the terrain, availability of materials, secure environment and minimal asphalting.
As noted above, construction costs can vary significantly. Building in rough terrain and through unstable landforms substantially increases the price of construction, while security costs depend on the volatility of a work area. Additionally, different road types require different levels of resources. Roads designed to facilitate transport of heavy goods and higher traffic volumes receive thicker asphalting and engineering support, while district roads linking local communities need only a stabilized, gravel surface.
Due to the fact that costs can vary greatly depending on terrain, security and road type, any comparison of costs is best done on a unit rate basis, not per kilometer. For instance, how much is being paid for a ton of asphalt, or a cubic meter of embankment, or cubic meter of reinforced concrete. Our unit costs are comparable with those incurred by other donors, including the military.
Why does USAID use foreign contractors when U.S. military project costs appear lower?
Although U.S. military project costs may appear to be lower than USAID’s, our analysis shows that they are, in fact, comparable when built to similar standards and all costs (including security) are considered on a unit rate basis. In a country like Afghanistan, where construction often takes place in rural, unsecured areas, these are significant factors which can increase the cost of a project substantially.
Project size is also a major variable in project costs. For example, smaller projects in support of operational strategies and initiatives designed to produce quick results often focus on provincial/rural roads that are less traveled, or traveled with lighter weight vehicles requiring less structural build-up.
Why does USAID use foreign contractors when they can do the same thing for less with Afghan contractors?
While preoccupied in decades of war, Afghan laborers lost valuable skills in the fighting and were unable to keep up-to-date on advances in construction techniques. USAID seeks to rebuild this capacity by hiring professional contractors who will pass on their modern expertise to the Afghan employees who make up at least 80% of their project staff. This ensures the quality of the roads while simultaneously imparting modern skills to the people of Afghanistan, empowering them to maintain the roads and building their capacity to independently initiate future projects.
Already, the capacity of Afghan contractors has increased rapidly. Today, over half of USAID’s current contracts are being implemented by Afghan contractors, and the percentage is expected to increase.
How long does it take to build a road?
Depending on the road’s type, size and terrain, construction can take between 18 and 24 months. A large portion of this time is invested in laying a solid foundation for construction, including terrain studies, design, procurement and mobilization. In general, large foreign contractors have the capacity to complete between 3 to 5 kms per month, while local contractors average between .05 and 2 kms per month.
What is the typical lifespan of a road?
The life cycle of a road depends on a number of factors, including traffic volumes, climate and maintenance. If a USAID road is properly maintained, the asphalt roads will last 10 years before requiring an overlay, while gravel roads need to be re-graveled every 5 years.
Who maintains the roads built by USAID?
The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is striving to establish a road maintenance system and sustainable financing. In the interim, it requested all donors to maintain the roads they have rehabilitated for a three year period. USAID agreed to maintain 1600kms of Regional and National Highways it has constructed/rehabilitated. USAID has committed $33 million to maintain the roads (including emergency repairs) for a period of three years, beginning January 08.
How does USAID measure the social and economic impact of a road?
USAID tries to measure the social and economic impact of a road in terms of reduced vehicle costs, including lower transport costs (e.g. for agricultural production to/from markets), travel times and passenger fares. For example, a new connector road constructed in the northern city of Faizabad resulted in a 67% decrease in travel times and a 40% reduction in travel costs. Other considerations are an increase in the number of businesses, increased volume of traffic and additional freight moving along the road.
Successful roads will also result in a stronger society, giving communities increased access to health, education, markets and government services.