Delay for key section of Algeria highway

Delays are afflicting the official opening of a stretch of the East-West highway in Algeria. This 84km section of the highway connects Dréan in the east of Algerian to the border with neighbouring Tunisia. A Japanese contractor was in charge of the project to construct the 400km eastern stretch of the East-West highway. However financial problems surrounding the need for additional work led to construction of the final stretch being curtailed. There is concern that should the work be left unfinished any longer, it would likely cost significantly more to complete the stretch of highway. The East-West highway forms a key section of the North African highway route that connects Morocco with Egypt. Delays to the construction of this new route have also arisen due to political unrest in the region, particularly in Libya although there have also been issues in Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.