Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Kigamboni bridge to be ready in 36 months

Dar es Salaam - Tanzania

A Sh214.639 billion project was signed yesterday to build a bridge across the Kigamboni Creek.
Under the deal signed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), the China Railways Construction Engineering Group and the China Major Bridge Engineering Company, it will take 36 months to complete the construction.

An architectural impression of the Kigamboni bridge

Works minister John Magufuli and his Labour and Employment counterpart Gaudencia Kabaka witnessed the signing of the contract by NSSF managing director Ramadhan Dau, China Railways Construction Engineering Group CEO Shi Yuan and Major Bridge Engineering representative Zhou Yiqiao.

NSSF will bear 60 per cent of the construction cost while the rest will come from the government. Before signing the pact, Dr Dau said the idea of constructing the bridge was mooted in 1977.

According to him, the project involves the construction of a one-kilometre tarred road of six lanes from Kurasini, a 680-metre cable stayed bridge and another 1.5km tarmac road that will also have six lanes. 

The construction will start immediately after a site for placement of equipment is found. Dr Magufuli challenged the two companies to finish the work at an agreed time to win the hearts and minds of the public.

The Bridge Layout

 “I visited China recently and I found a 27km super bridge that was constructed in 18 months…I wonder why it should take 36 months to construct a bridge of less than 2km in Dar es Salaam,” he said. “Do whatever you can to complete the bridge before President Kikwete’s term ends. Kikwete is the one who is supposed to inaugurate it.”

Tanzania National Roads Agency chief executive Patrick Mfugale said the bridge would have an international standard. Arab Consulting Engineers from Egypt would supervise its construction.