PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has assured Tanzanians that her
Government will make efforts to look for funds for repairing and
Constructing all roads and bridges countrywide through the Tanzania
National Roads Agency (TANROADS).
President Samia made the assurance yesterday in Dar es Salaam when
opening the newly built Tanzanite Bridge.
"I take this opportunity to congratulate the Contractor, Consultant, Ministry of Works and Transport and TANROADS for completing this project," President Samia stated.
She added: "It is a big comfort for us today seeing the project, which
was initiated by my predecessor the Late John Magufuli, is completed.
To me, this Bridge is part of honoring Magufuli,” she said.
The construction of the Tanzanite Bridge is a continuation of the
Government’s efforts to improve transport infrastructures and address
the challenge of traffic congestion and ease transportation in the
city of Dar es Salaam, hence enhancing economic growth.
She said the construction of bridges and roads uses a lot of public
funds, thus calling upon all Tanzanians to give priority to protection
of those infrastructures.
When welcoming the President, Works and Transport Minister Prof Makame
Mbarawa thanked her for enabling completion of various works projects.
Prof Mbarawa said traffic jams on Ali Hassan Mwinyi road, especially
at Old Selander Bridge was a big challenge, thus the government came
up with a grand plan to address it.
“Apart from reducing the congestion, this Bridge will be a tourist
attraction because it is located along the beach. The government will
ensure that road infrastructures are safeguarded. I thank our experts
from the Ministry and TANROADS for completing the construction of this
Bridge, what is now needed is to protect it,” he stated.
On his part, The Chief Executive Officer of the TANROADS, Eng Rogatus
Mativila, said feasibility study was done by the Kyong Dong
Engineering, a Korean company, from May 2014 to November 2014.
The feasibility study was followed by the detailed engineering design
which was done by the Yushin Engineeing Corporation, also from the
Republic of South Korea.
The Korean GS Engineering Company constructed the Bridge at a cost of
243.7 billion Tanzanian Shillings. The construction was completed in
December last year and the Bridge started being used from February 1,
this year.
According to a survey done in 2017, the number of cars passing on Ali
Hassan Mwinyi road was estimated at 52,000 daily.
Due to the rapid growth of Dar es Salaam city and increased
population, the government decided to build the 1.03-kilometre
Tanzanite Bridge.
The plan to construct the bridge was also stipulated in the 2015 CCM
Election Manifesto.
Eng Mativila said construction of the bridge was implemented by the
government on soft loan from the Exim Bank. The loan agreement was
signed in September 2015.
The Bridge has four lanes, two lanes on each side connected to the
approach roads of Kenyatta drive and Barack Obama.
The Bridge will be under contractor’s supervision for three years,
according to the contract.
Korean Ambassador to Tanzania, commended all people who participated
in the construction of the Bridge, particularly he congratulated
President Samia for ensuring that the construction is completed.
“The Bridge is a symbol of development and achievements of Tanzania.
It is a symbol of cooperation between Tanzania and Korea,” he
emphasized.
He added that the Bridge would help in reducing traffic jam and ease
transportation of people and goods.