The completion of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara)
overpass in Dar es Salaam comes as a relief to motorists, who
previously had to endure many hours in traffic.
Constructed
at the junction of the busy Mandela Expressway and Julius Nyerere Road
in the commercial capital, the flyover — funded by the government of
Japan through the Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica) — is
expected to be officially inaugurated by President John Magufuli in
October, according to government spokesperson Hassan Abbas.
During
peak hours, motorists using the road would wait for hours due to
traffic congestion at the busy junction, which is a key link from the
central business district to the airport, the Dar es Salaam port and
densely populated residential areas.
Construction of the flyover started in October 2016 at an estimated cost of $45 million.
The
road, which is expected to eventually reduce traffic jams by 80 per
cent, consists of four lanes and a 425-metre bridge. It is also expected
to increase productivity by reducing the time people spend on the road.
During
a recent inspection tour of the flyover, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa
said construction of the Tazara flyover has factored in the need for a
rapid bus transit project to Gongo la Mboto from the city centre.
He said the contractor has set aside enough space and the Dar project will kick off soon.
In
the run up to the official opening, motorists were allowed to use the
flyover starting on September 15. The Tanzania National Roads Agency and
Japanese Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co Ltd signed a contract on
October 15, 2015, for the construction of the flyover under a
grant-in-aid.
The start
Construction started in April 2016, with President Magufuli saying the project aimed to decongest Dar es Salaam.
The completion of the first flyover in Tanzania has paved the way for other flyovers.
There
is the Ubungo interchange, under the Dar es Salaam Urban Transport
Improvement Project, supported by a $225 million concessional credit
from the International Development Association.
There
are six flyovers in total planned for construction in Dar es Salaam
according to executive director of the Tanzania Roads Agency Patrick
Mfugale.
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