Tanzania receives US $34.5m for 4.3-km stretch of Bagamoyo road

The government of Tanzania has received US $34.5m from Japan to finance construction of a 4.3-km stretch of the new Bagamoyo road, phase II between Morocco and Mwenge junction.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Dotto James, and Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Masaharu Yoshida, signed the exchange documents and grant agreement in Dar es Salaam.

James said the road will be widened to a four-lane highway including enough space for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) phase 4. Widening the road is vital to alleviate traffic congestion in Dar es Salaam, and connect to Bagamoyo Port for transporting goods and services within and around Dar es Salaam, and the rest of the country.

James also confirmed that the government of Japan has also financed the detailed design to an amount of US $623, 891.He further explained that Japan has been financing a number of projects including US $44.3m for the upgrading of a 12.9-km section between Mwenge junction and Tegeta junction to four lanes. Additionally, bridges at Mlalakuwa, Lugalo and Tegeta will be replaced.

Other projects financed by Japan include: construction of Tazara flyover, 188.15 km of the Dodoma-Babati road, 202.5 km of Tunduru-Mangaka-Mtambaswala road and 259.9 km of the Iringa-Dodoma road.Japanese ambassador Masaharu Yoshida said the grant especially targets the most highly congested parts in the city. “Dar es Salaaam, which was home to around 4 million in 2012, will be home to 12 million come 2040,” he said.

Patrick Mfugale, CEO Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) confirmed that the government has received a soft loan from World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) for the construction of phases I and II.“We have finalized feasibility studies for both phase II and III of BRT and we are currently implementing the feasibility study for phase IV,” he added.