BRT phase II construction reaches 83pc

THE execution of the second phase of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has reached 82 per cent and is expected to be  completed  in March next year.

The project corridor traverses from Mbagala Area in Temeke District to the Central Business District (CBD) where it connects with Phase 1 of the BRT system at the Kariakoo hub.

The project is expected to directly enhance and improve the traffic flow and eliminate bottlenecks to access various economic centres such as the industrial zones and the vast populous residential areas of Temeke Municipality.

Speaking on Friday after opening for the use, on side of Uhasibu flyover that connects Kilwa road and Nelson Mandela expressway, the Minister for Works and Transport, Professor Makame Mbarawa assured the commuters that the project will be completed as planned.

“We are optimistic that as the contract states this project should be completed on the 27, March 2023… we assure Tanzanians that this project will be completed on time as specified in the contract” Prof Mbarawa emphasised.

He further applauded President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for her efforts to ensure that the road infrastructure is completed on time, adding that the President instructed him to conduct regular inspections to ensure its timely completion.

“I was here about 40 days ago to inspect the progress and today we are here again to make sure that we now open the other side of this flyover  for use  … I think this will be a great gift for the commuters particularly in celebrating the New Year’s festival,” the minister stated.

In particular, he added that the opening of the flyovers for use in this BRT project was going in phases while stressing that the next move after the opening Uhasibu flyover, the ministry expects to open the Bandari Bridge, together with the Chang’ombe Bridge for use.

In response to the congestion from Mbagala where the project ends, to Vikindu section, Prof Mbarawa said they had already conducted the design to expand the road from Mbagala to Vikindu 17 kilometres and they expect to commence the construction by the next year.

In fast -tracking the progress of the project, the minister instructed the contractor to use effectively the festival season to work day and night to complete the construction of some areas of the project.

For his part, the BRT Project Manager Engineer Barakael Mmari said the (BRT) Project-Phase 2 involves the construction of infrastructure that includes 20.3km of exclusive BRT lanes and Non Motorised Transport (NMT) facilities along Kilwa Road corridor and part of Kawawa Road.