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Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS) signed contracts for nine road projects in June.

Contracts worth a combined Tsh234.5 billion (US$97.6 million) were signed for the construction of the 160km Mnivata-Newala-Masasi road and the Mwiti bridge project in the Mtwara region.

China Wu Yi Company was awarded a Tsh142 billion contract for the 100km Mnivata-Mitesa section. China Communications Construction Company will build the 60km Mitesa-Masasi section and the Mwiti bridge under a contract worth Tsh92.5 billion.

The contractors will also contribute dispensaries, schools, storehouses, ambulances and x-ray machines to the local community.

The Mtwara-Newala-Masasi road is an important link to the main road from Mtwara to Mbamba Bay, known as the Mtwara Corridor, which connects to Mozambique.

Further road projects are planned for the Mtwara region, including upgrading to bitumen standard the Newala-Mtama, Mtama-Tandahimba, Mtwara-Kilambo, Newala-Mbuyuni roads. Feasibility studies and detailed design work is ongoing.

TANROADS also signed contracts this month for the upgrade to bitumen standard of a further seven roads, with a combined length of 2,035 kilometres. The projects are being executed on an engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) plus financing basis.

The contracts have been awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Sinohydro Cooperation, China Overseas Engineering Group (COVEC) and China Railway 15th Bureau Group.

The seven contracts are worth a combined Tsh3.8 trillion. The projects are due to be completed within five years.

The seven roads are: 
•    Kidatu-Lumecha/Songea road (435.8km)
•    Karatu-Maswa road (Simiyu) (339km)
•    Handeni-Singida road (384.3km)
•    Arusha-Kibaya-Kongwa road (453.4km)
•    Masasi-Nachingwea-Liwale road (175km)
•    Igawa-Songwe-Tunduma road (four lanes) (237.9km)
•    Mafinga-Mtwango-Mgololo road (81km)

The upgrading of these seven roads is intended to improve the connectivity in 13 regions, increasing the efficiency of transporting goods and people around the country. The road works will create direct employment for about 20,300 Tanzanians. TANROADS intends to appoint local consultants to supervise the construction.

The road agency also hopes to begin construction on the 205km Kibaha-Chalinze-Morogoro expressway project during the coming financial year. It is being developed as a public-private partnership. In March, companies were invited to pre-qualify for Lot 1 - the 78.9km Kibaha-Chalinze section.

Meanwhile, construction of the 3.2km JP Magufuli bridge over Lake Victoria is 75% complete, TANROADS has announced. The Tsh716 billion project, which will connect Busisi and Kigono, is due for completion on 24 February 2024.

Photo: Road project in Tanzania (Source: TANROADS)