MOTORISTS and users of the Morogoro road will from November this year enjoy full use of the just expanded 19.2km Kimara – Kibaha eight lanes aimed at easing traffic congestion.
The project that kicked off in 2018 at a cost of 167bn/-, is expected to be completed by the end of October this year, ready for official inauguration. By August this year, the project that is undertaken by the Estim Construction, was completed by 88 per cent, with the contractor having received 75 per cent of the payment due to the work that had been done.
Execution of the project is part of the government’s ongoing initiatives of easing movement of people, goods and services as well as curbing traffic in the highways that link one region to another. Moreover, it is part of implementation of the 2020- 2025 election manifesto of the ruling party CCM.
It was also featured in the government budget for the current fiscal year 2022/23. The completion of the project, apart from beautifying the outlook of the Dar es Salaam region especially Ubungo District, also facilitates business and movement of people from upcountry and neighbouring counties to Tanzania’s commercial city.
Touring the site recently, Deputy Minister for Works and Transport, Eng Godfrey Kasekenya tasked the contractor to ensure the project is completed by the end of October to enable motorists and other users to enjoy full use of the newly expanded eight lanes.
The initial work that included construction of the six new lanes, culverts and bridge has been completed, but there were some additional tasks that came after.
“The additional tasks resulted in extension of the time frame for the project and increased cost for the project to 218bn/-,” said the deputy minister.
Adding; “We thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan for approving an additional 51bn/- to finance additional work in the project, we have to ensure the construction is complete by end of October this year”. He said the additional work was caused by the kickoff of the construction of the Magufuli Bus Terminal that made it necessary for construction of a feeder road linking it with the Morogoro road.
According to him, it was also necessary to construct a pedestrian’s bridge that connects the Magufuli Bus Terminal and the Mbezi Mwisho bus stand being used by the city commuter buses. Minister for Works and Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa said in Parliament in May this year that the government planned to spend 2bn/- for expansion of Kimara- Kibaha road and Kibamba, Kiluvya and Mpiji bridges in the financial year 2022/23.
Speaking on the progress of the project, the resident Engineer with the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) Eng Mwanaisha Rajabu said the expansion has been done at high standard.
She said the additional work also included the construction of the bus stand at Mbezi Luguruni, installment of traffic lights in nine junctions along the 19.2km and security lights.
The additional work included road safety features as well as fitting of proper drainage systems, constructing five bridges; Kibamba, Kiluvya, Mpiji, Mloganzila, and Mbezi and culvert boxes. For his part, the Dar es Salam Regional Tanroads Manager, Eng Elsony Mwaladzi asked motorists and all members of the public to properly use the expanded infrastructure for it to last longer.
“The government is spending a lot of money in construction of this infrastructure, I’m encouraging members of the public to avoid destroying the good work that is being done,” he said.
In the 2022/2023 budget, the government allocated 3.9tri/- for the Works and Transport Ministry, of which 1.5tri/- is for the works sector and 2.4tri/- for the transport segment.
Some 2.7bn/- from the total budget was allocated for rehabilitation of MlandiziChalinze road (44.24km) and construction of Kwa Mathias – Msangani road (8.3km). In efforts to reduce traffic congestion in Dar es Salaam, the Ministry set aside 5.1bn/- to pay constructors, who have completed some of the projects and to proceed with the execution of other road projects aimed at reducing congestion.
