Bejaia-East-West Highway Link Nears Completion; Jijel-El Eulma Project Faces Delays
Image: Algerie Eco
Takeaway
The imminent opening of the Bejaia highway section should improve logistics for companies operating in the Bejaia region, particularly those reliant on the port. Investors should monitor the progress of the Djen Djen-El Eulma highway, as its completion will significantly impact transportation costs and supply chain efficiency for industries in eastern Algeria. Any further delays in the Djen Djen-El Eulma project could negatively affect companies dependent on the port of Djen Djen.
A new five-kilometer section of the highway linking Bejaia to the East-West Highway is set to open soon, connecting Merdj Oumane (Amizour) to Oued Ghir. The announcement was made during an unannounced visit to the Oued Ghir interchange construction site by the wali of Bejaia, Kamel Eddine Kerbouche. This segment is the penultimate section of the Bejaia East-West Highway project.
Meanwhile, in Setif, Wali Mustapha Limani inspected the progress of the highway project connecting the port of Djen Djen (Jijel) to El Eulma on Monday evening. He was accompanied by the Director of Public Works, a representative of Algerian Highways, and the Director of Irrigation, along with the heads of the Ain El Kebira and Beni districts. Public Works and Basic Infrastructure Minister, Abdelkader Djellaoui, also conducted a field visit on October 7, 2025, to monitor the 110-kilometer highway linking the port of Djen Djen to El Eulma. Djellaoui emphasized the need to accelerate work and remove technical obstacles.
The East-West Highway, also known as the A1 Highway, spans 1,216 km (756 mi) across Algeria, from the Moroccan border to the Tunisian border. The six-lane highway project, launched in 2007, was completed in August 2023 after 17 years of construction. The project, one of the largest public works projects in the world, cost $11 billion. The Bejaia access road is designed to ease congestion and connect the city and its port to the East-West Highway. The Djen Djen-El Eulma highway is considered a strategic route for connecting industrial zones in eastern Algeria to the national transportation networks.
The Djen Djen-El Eulma highway project has faced delays since its launch and was relaunched by the state in 2022. On October 7, 2025, the section of the Djen Djen-El Eulma highway crossing the wilaya of Setif was 55 km long with 28 structures, 13 completed and 15 under construction, with a 75% completion rate. Minister Djellaoui ordered the creation of a joint working committee to monitor the project daily and establish a precise schedule for each stage of construction. The Algerian-Turkish-Italian consortium in charge of the project was instructed to adhere to the 36-month contractual deadline by working in a 3x8 system while ensuring compliance with technical standards.
Looking ahead, a meeting is scheduled at the Ministry of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure to establish fundamental points and a new timeline for completing the remaining work on the Djen Djen-El Eulma highway. The ministry is working to restructure the contract for the Djen Djen-El Eulma highway project to complete its construction. The completion of these highway projects is crucial for improving traffic flow, reducing congestion, and supporting economic development in the region.