Kahama–Kakola road project hits 89pc completion

BULYANHULU: THE 73-kilometre Kahama Manzese–Kakola Road project in Bulyanhulu has reached 89 per cent completion, creating 460 formal jobs and additional income opportunities for local businesses.

Valued at more than 100bn/-, the project is expected to improve transport, stimulate economic activity and ease the movement of people and goods when completed in December 2026.

Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) project supervisor, Marco Bee, disclosed this yesterday when speaking to journalists who visited the construction site.

He said construction began in June 2024 and has so far created 460 formal jobs, with 418 positions occupied by Tanzanians and 42 by Chinese nationals.

“Informal employment opportunities have also emerged for local food vendors, popularly known as mama lishe, who earn income by preparing meals for project workers,” he said.

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Eng Bee said 36 kilometres of the road, starting from Kahama Manzese, have been completed, while streetlights will be installed in densely populated areas to improve visibility and safety.

He said Segese area, located along the road, is among the areas earmarked for street lighting, adding that some finishing works, including road markings, remain.

The engineer said all 14 box culverts have been completed, alongside 148 pipe culverts. Road embankments are also being raised to minimise damage caused by water during heavy rains.

Another project engineer, Samson Mgina, said construction of the cementtreated layer was ongoing as work progressed towards the final stage of asphalt laying.

He said work on the upper road layers had reached the 60-kilometre mark, while overall implementation stood at 89 per cent.

Eng Mgina said the stone-crushing and aggregate production facility has four processing stages to ensure construction materials meet the required standards. Equipment for crushing stones and mixing materials has also helped accelerate the work.