The road from Kabul to Kandahar

• Published in: Civil engineering (New York, N.Y. 1983) Vol. 74; no. 4; pp. 58 - 65
• Main Author: QUINN, Pat M
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01-04-2004
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Contractors; Exact sciences and technology; Foreign aid; Government contracts; Highway construction; Postwar reconstruction; Road construction. Pavements. Maintenance; Transportation infrastructure; Asia; Afghanistan; United States > US; Ring road; Reconstruction; Project evaluation; Road construction; Pavement layer; Aligning (siting); Contract; Road bridge
• ISSN: 0885-7024; 2381-0688

The Kabul to Kandahar (K-K) highway is an important link in what is called Afghanistan's ring road. The ring extends southwest from Kabul to Kandahar, 440 km, and then northwest from the latter city to Herat, a distance of 566 km. If all goes well, the entire ring road will be reconstructed over the next few years. The road is plagued by heavy dust storms, torrential rains in March and April, and heavy snow in winter. The ring road is a crucial lifeline in this landlocked country, and its reconstruction is of cardinal importance in efforts to restore and reinvigorate the Afghan economy. In April 2003, the Louis Berger Group was asked by the US Agency for International Development to accelerate the reconstruction of the road and guarantee that at least one layer of pavement that would support heavy traffic through the winter would be completed by December 31, 2003. Although most of the work on the ring road is being carried out under contracts with foreign contractors, the Afghan construction industry is rapidly being rebuilt after a hiatus of 20 years. All of the subcontractors working on road projects must rely on Afghan companies to supply the labor.