The Minister of Public Works reveals the relaunch of projects to connect several ports with the East-West highway – Algerian Al-Hiwar newspaper

The Minister of Public Works and Basic Installations, Abdelkader Glaoui, revealed the resumption of projects to connect a number of ports to the east-west highway to ensure the smooth movement of people and goods and reduce pressure on coastal cities, as he reported this Thursday in the National Assembly,

During a public session devoted to oral questions, chaired by Azouz Nasseri, Speaker of the Council, in the presence of the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Najiba Djilali, and other members of the government, Mr. Galaoui explained that the necessary administrative procedures had been initiated to launch road projects to connect a number of ports to the East-West highway, after years of work stopping, including the ports of Tennis and Skikda.

Regarding the road between the port of Tennis and the east-west highway, which extends over a distance of 54 km, the Minister confirmed that the project is divided into two parts. The first connects Bouzghaya and the highway at the level of Oued Selli, over a length of 22 km, while the second part connects the port of Tennis and Bouzghaya over a distance of 32 km.

The work of the first part, which was assigned to an Algerian-Portuguese complex, was halted after the progress rate reached 52 percent, which led to the contract being terminated on February 11, 2025, due to “the complex’s breach of its contractual obligations” and “the financial difficulties it is experiencing,” according to Mr. Glaoui.

The Algerian Highway Company is currently undertaking the necessary administrative and legal procedures to revive the project and complete the remaining works. The book of conditions has been studied by the Sectoral Committee for Public Procurement, and “reservations are currently being lifted before launching the procedures for requesting offers in the next few days,” according to the minister’s explanations.

Regarding the project of the implemented road linking the East-West motorway and the port of Skikda, at a distance of 31 km, the Minister revealed that “work is currently underway to lift reservations by the Algerian Highway Company, the authorized project owner, in order for the Sectoral Committee for Public Procurement to approve the file, before launching the procedures for requesting offers in the next few days to choose the completion institution,” according to the Minister.

This project, which was undertaken by an Algerian-Portuguese complex, was completely halted in 2020, at a progress rate estimated at 39 percent, before the contract was terminated on February 16, 2025.

The Minister attributed the faltering of these projects to their “bad start”, especially with regard to the selection of construction companies, stressing that the year 2026 will witness the revival of many stalled projects that will have an important development impact, and other structured projects will also be launched, including the Laghouat-Mnaia railway project, funded by the African Development Bank.