A 22-km section of Algeria North-South Highway built by a Chinese firm opened to traffic on April 19.
Built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), the stretch is part of a 53-km highway that links Chiffa to Berrouaghia, both in northern Algeria.
Algeria's transport minister says the two-way six-lane highway is expected to be completed early next year. It is considered as the most challenging part of the North-South Highway, which is dubbed as Algeria's traffic artery. The section includes six tunnels and dozens of viaducts.
The North-South Highway is some 3,000km long, running from the Mediterranean Sea to the hinterland of the Sahara. It's considered as a vital project for Algeria's economic development.