Objective. The objective of this now complete USAID funded project was to complete the design and construction of an all-weather paved road, with all bridge and drainage structure improvements, necessary to ensure a long-lasting transportation corridor between Kandahar City and the district center of Arghastan.

Background. The Southern Strategy Road (SSR) was declared by the U.S. Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador, and the Commander of NATO forces as strategic to the success of the NATO mission in Afghanistan. The road begins near the Kandahar Air Field, at the Kandahar to Spin Boldak road, and proceeds in an easterly direction.

In late 2006, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), via a grant from USAID, contracted with SAITA Afghanistan Construction Company, a Japanese-based firm, to design and construct the first 20 kilometers of the SSR. Subsequent contracts were awarded to SAITA for the continued design and construction of the road to kilometer 79. However, work on the final contract stopped at kilometer 48.1 at the end of December 2007, when the UNOPS agreement with USAID expired.

In late December 2007, USAID assigned the responsibility to continue construction of the road to the Louis Berger/Black & Veatch joint venture under the Afghanistan Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Program. In order to avoid disruption of ongoing progress, the joint venture subcontracted SAITA to continue the work.

Status. All work is now completed along the alignment. Aggregate base course, prime coat, and asphaltic concrete pavement have been completed from kilometer 0+000 to kilometer 79+000, and a total of 94 planned culverts have been completed. Demobilization is completed and the project is closed.

Impact. Completion of the all-weather paved road enhances commodity transportation and other necessary travel from Kandahar to the district center of Arghastan. The completed road also benefits the continued effort to control AGE forces in the southern areas of Afghanistan along the Pakistan border.

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