KABUL, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan authorities have launched the construction of a major highway and a bridge in south Afghanistan's Helmand province to link the provincial capital Lashkar Gah and the western Herat city, state-run news agency Bakhtar reported on Friday.

The project, at a cost of 177.5 million afghani (2.51 million U.S. dollars) for the highway's first section with a length of 27.5 kilometers and for a 350-meter bridge, is expected to be funded by Ministry of Public Works, the report said.

Afghanistan's infrastructure facilities including roads and bridges have been badly damaged or destroyed due to more than four decades of war and civil strife. The Afghan caretaker government has launched a variety of construction projects to boost economy and rebuild the country.

The latest development projects included a pharmaceutical plant, new passenger service facility at Kabul international airport, and street and road construction in capital Kabul and other cities across the country.