<b>Sept 9, 2004, Kandahar Road, Afghanistan:</b> U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad broke ground with the Governor of Oruzgan, Minister of Public Works, Governor of Kandahar, USAID Afghanistan Director, Patrick Fine, and U.S. Major General Olson for the Kandahar to Tirin Kot Road. By cutting the drive time from 12 hours to 3 hours, the 130km road will restore a valuable trade route between two key southern cities in Afghanistan - improving security, commerce and access to health care and education for tens of thousands of Afghans. The road is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and will be built by the U.S. Army's 528th Engineer Battalion. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2005 and will cost approximately $20 million.
State Department
2004-09-09
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