Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday launched a construction of a key road linking the country to Ethiopia which will have a big impact on the wider East Africa region in terms of trade and regional integration.

Kibaki said the 176 million US dollar Turbi-Moyale Road will also enhance trade between the two countries, open up Northern Kenya for more trade and business and contribute to an increase in the volume of Ethiopian goods transiting through the port of Mombasa.

"Indeed, we expect that upon completion, this road will result in reduction of transport costs, shortening of transit times for imports and exports, and reduced vehicle operating costs," Kibaki said in Moyale in northern Kenya.

The Turbi-Moyale road is the last Kenyan section of the Trans- Africa Highway Corridor. The 122 km road section is the third phase of the Isiolo-Moyale road corridor being upgraded to bitumen standards by the government with support of the African Development Bank (ADB).

The Kenyan section of the corridor starts at the Tanzanian border of Namanga, through Nairobi, Thika Super Highway-Isiolo, Marsabit and terminates at the border with Ethiopia in Moyale.

During the launch, Kibaki assured that the road will be built to the highest possible standards including extensive rehabilitation of existing bridges, construction of police posts and provision of roadside amenities including car parking areas and basic facilities for travelers at three locations.

Also included in the project, the President added, is the drilling of boreholes and construction to bitumen standards of an 8-kilometer access road to Sololo Centre.

To further facilitate trade and transport between Kenya and Ethiopia, Kibaki stressed that the project will also incorporate the construction of a One-Stop Border Post at Moyale and a weighbridge.

"Indeed, it is noteworthy that what we are launching today is not only the construction of a road but rather a development corridor," he said and expressed appreciation to the African Development Bank for financing the project to the tune of 176 million dollars.

Minister for Road Franklin Bett noted that the road would promote the social and economical welfare of the people in the region.

He further added that the government is currently undertaking 70,000km roads construction in the various parts of the country.

Area lawmaker Mohamed Mahamud noted that the construction of the Northern Corridor from Lamu in the coastal region to Moyale in northern region would integrate the region with other parts of the country as well as the neighboring nations.

He commended the government for the free education programme as well as measures to enhance security.

Kibaki reaffirmed his government commitment to continue giving special priority to the rehabilitation and construction of the roads infrastructure in order for the country to realize its Vision 2030 goals.

The president said the roads sub-sector will also be supported financially and in policy direction with emphasis on regular maintenance to international standards to ensure that roads serve their planned design life.

He observed that the roads sub-sector accounts for over 95 percent of the country's total passenger and freight traffic and therefore plays a critical role in facilitating transportation and marketing of agricultural produce while enhancing regional integration and promoting import-export trade.

"In addition, by facilitating rapid movement, an efficient road network plays a significant role in the maintenance of law and order, thus enhancing security across our country," Kibaki said.