A Glimpse of Some Infrastructure Wonders of Eritrea

The road to Massawa aka Menegedi Batse - January 17, 2014

By Shabait

The Northern Escarpment on Eritrea’s Green Belt came to be known only after the construction of the Serejaka-Shebab road.

Breathtaking hairpin bends winding down the magnificent mountain scenery give travelers a spectacular and unforgettable sight. And right where the cliffs begin, just beyond the village of Weki, a stunning view awaits your eyes; when the sky at eye level is filled with a dense white fog, it makes you feel like you’re floating in the clouds.

The amazing panorama gets even better as you proceed the road, through the thick forest where roaming wild animals and chirping birds add further delight to the enchanting trip.

The majestic scenery you can see after it rains is yet another remarkable vision and all thanks to the construction of that road.

Invigorating Harmony

One among the fruitful road constructions of the country is the Massawa-Assab highway, which has reduced the drive from three days to a one-day trip. Before that, owing to the bumpy roads and tiresome journey, travelers rarely noticed the area’s natural beauty and that the road passed along the sea coast. Although not yet completely asphalted, the Massawa-Assab highway is now smoother than a runway and has not only resolved the transportation problems in the area but also brought about relaxation for the minds of travelers.

Along the road, ostriches and antelope freely wander around, shielded by the Afar’s strict laws forbidding hunting of wild animals: they are of the belief that “God gives us water for the animal’s sake”.

With such long freeways there is no reason why we couldn’t hold car rallies in Eritrea in the future. Many thanks are due to all those who thought of building this road and actually took part in its constriction. They deserve high praises while their names shall be engraved in the hearts of the millions of tomorrow’s tourists.

A true miracle

To say that I have never seen such a unique, beautiful and highly significant endeavor in my life would be understatement. The Igla- Demhina road is by far one of the very strategic and important works of infrastructure.

The steep descent from the highest spot in our country (above 2000 meters above sea level) to ground zero at sea level in only a few kilometers distance is indeed a truly astonishing work of engineering.

Almost the whole country can be seen from the top: facing you from the West are the highland plateaus of Adi Keih; the ancient archeological sites of Kohaito and Mount Soira towers from the South; the precipitous gorge in the East levels you with the valleys lined ahead towards the North. Looking down there is the Haddas River while the Red Sea acknowledges its presence in the Southeast.

When an elderly resident of the area was told that a road would be built for them, all he could manage to say was “Is it by the hand of man or that of that God?” Indeed, this miraculous work accomplished by the Government of Eritrea proved that the strong Eritrean does the impossible.

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