May 2010

$719,739

Completed

Kandahar

RC-South

Project Description

This project will construct a 400 meter causeway across the Tarnac River north of Molla Abdullah Kariz that will allow for crossing of the river through a far greater portion of the year. The causeway will be elevated from the river bed and will be constructed of reinforced concrete with stone pitching embankments on each side. The causeway will have culverts in the main channels of the river. Currently, locals can utuilize the road seven months a year. With the addition of the causeway, the road will be passable for over eleven months a year, only being closed during the heaviest of storms.

Project Goals

The causeway will allow for the crossing of the river through a far greater portion of the year. This will allow the villagers to the north of the river to have access to the clinic built in Khvosh Ab for emergency care. The causeway will reduce the amount of accidents that occur from villagers crossing the river during periods of elevated water which has proved to be a significant problem. 

The addition of the causeway will also expand the market for farmers throughout the area. By extending the local farmer's market as far as Kandahar City, the causeway will help, along with the irrigation and canal projects in the area, break the cycle of subsistence farming and poverty. Subsistence farming leaves the population vulnerable to droughts, floods and other natural disasters as demonstrated during the February 2010 flooding. Breaking the cycle of subsistence farming is the first step in raising these villages out of poverty thus responding to an urgent humanitarian need. This project will greatly increase the commerce, safety, and quality of life of the local nationals throughout the area. It will also increase cooperation of nearby villages through increased interaction improving governance and security throughout Daman District. 

It is the overall goal of the project to greatly increase the commerce, safety, and access to services of the local nationals throughout the area. This is part of a series of projects that are targeting these villages to respond to the rampant poverty in the area. These projects include the Khvosh Ab clinic and school, the Shah Kalay school, route corona and route guiness improved roads, Molla Abdullah Karez school, village well drilling, tractor distribution, and Khvosh Ab canal, culvert, and irrigation improvements. Together these projects will improve the area infrastructure significantly improving governance and quality of life for the local population. 

 Comments: The people of Molla Abdullah Karez and Haji Mohammed Shah Kalay have requested the Tarnac Causeway through their District Governor.

Results

The causeway is already being used as an alternative to the HWY 4 bridge. The metric to the its success will be the amount of use it sees during the rainy season.

Updates

-Project experienced repeated delays due to security, and weather. Twice the contractor lost equipment and parts of the project due to the Tarnac flooding.

-The project was completed on May 4th, and was inspected on the 10th. The Causeway was built to