· ENA
PM Abiy on Newly Inaugurated Riverside Dev't Project in Capital City
Topics:City lifeRoads and transport
Summary of the ENA report
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed opens a 9.6 km riverside section in Addis Ababa, from the Entoto Qusquam area to Kechene. It is part of the Sheger Project, planned to continue to Peacock Park and Bole. Trails now connect Entoto, Kechene and Piazza for walkers and cyclists. Cafes are under construction, and river water treatment is not complete.
Key points
- The 9.6 km Entoto to Kechene Medhanealem riverside section opened in Addis Ababa.
- It is part of the Sheger Project, which is planned to run from Entoto to Peacock Park and on to Bole.
- The Prime Minister said the remaining sections to Peacock Park will be complete within two to three months.
- Cafes and restaurants are under construction along the river through public-private partnerships.
Real.et analysis
ENA reports that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed opened the Entoto to Kechene Medhanealem Riverside Development Project in Addis Ababa. The stretch is 9.6 km long. It runs from the Entoto Qusquam area to Kechene. It is one part of the Sheger Project, which is planned to run from Entoto to Peacock Park and on to Bole, with walkways and access roads. Cafes and restaurants are under construction on the river banks through public-private partnerships. The Prime Minister says the remaining sections to Peacock Park will be complete in two to three months. Work to clean the river water continues.
What this means for residents
The open section gives the north of the city a long path for walks and bicycles. ENA says trails now connect Entoto, Kechene and Piazza. For people who live in Shiro Meda, Kechene or near Piazza, this is a new place for exercise close to home.
The report also describes what the area was like before: dense settlement without a plan, floods in the rainy season, poor access for ambulances and polluted water. The water treatment is not complete. Use the paths, but do not treat the river water as clean.
What this means for visitors
You can combine the riverside with other places in the same part of the city. Entoto Park is at the top end of the route. Peacock Park is the planned end of the next section. Our parks guide lists opening hours and entry fees where we have them. The riverside cafes are not all open, so take water with you.
What to watch
The dates for the next sections are a statement of intent. Check which parts are open before you plan a long walk. For people who rent or buy near the river, completed sections could make an area more popular. The works can also bring road closures and relocation, as in earlier corridor phases. See our summary of the second phase of corridor development.
Background
ENA reports that indigenous plants replace eucalyptus on the slopes, and that Konso builders made stone terraces by hand to reduce erosion. Strawberries, highland coffee, citrus and honey are produced on the banks.