Tanzania hits milestone in road networks with 37,734.41km of tarmac roads

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DODOMA: WITH the national road network standing at 37,734.41km, of which 12,225.26km have been upgraded to tarmac level Tanzania has marked significant progress in road and bridge infrastructure development, with the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) completing major works across the country between July 2025 and April 2026.

The Minister for Works, Abdallah Ulega, made the statement earlier on Wednesday in Dodoma when presenting the budget estimates for the 2026/2027 financial year, noting that the government constructed 243.13km of tarmac roads and rehabilitated 94.36 kilometres of gravel roads through TANROADS this year.

The the minister said that Tanzania’s national road network currently stands at 37,734.41 kilometres, of which 12,225.26 kilometres have been upgraded to tarmac level, reflecting continued expansion of the country’s transport infrastructure.

Elaborating the achievements, he highlighted the historical growth of the road sector, saying that at independence in 1961, Tanzania had only 1,360 kilometres of tarmac roads and that from the first to the fifth phase governments, a total of 9,369.81 kilometres were constructed, while the sixth phase government has built 1,495.45km of roads and completed 18 major bridges within five years.

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“These are significant achievements attained in a relatively short period in the road and bridge infrastructure sector,” he said.

Furthermore, he said that the government has completed construction of nine major bridges, while 11 others are still under construction and 13 more are in the planning stage, noting that these projects have opened up economic opportunities and improved efficiency across transport sectors including rail, ports and airports.

According to the minister, roads remain the backbone of Tanzania’s transport system due to their extensive reach compared to other modes of transport. He added that the government continues to protect its investments through regular maintenance works, including routine maintenance of 16,782.58km of roads during the reporting period.