Monday, August 22, 2011

Tanzania in $130m bridge plan

The Tanzanian government is set to inject US$ 130.2 million for infrastructure development.This will involve the construction of the long awaited 680 meter Kigamboni Bridge in a bid to connect  Dar es Salaam's CBD to Kigamboni peninsula.
According to the government, the Kigamboni Bridge construction will be built in partnership with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

Mr. John Magufuli, Minister for works said that the government is injecting $ 211,066 as internal fund which is about 40% and NSSF contribute about $ 130 million which is 60%.

The project will include construction of two reinforced concrete pylons of a cable stayed bridge with centre span of 250meter and total bridge length of 680meter, installation of wax coated stay cables including anchorages. Tanzania plans to build a cable stayed bridge.

"The bridge construction will also include construction of Six (6) lanes dual carriageway with two (2) sidewalks pre-stressed box girder concrete deck of 680meter total length and 27.5meter total width, construction of two (2) reinforced concrete apartments founded on piles, construction of retaining structures of 450m length and construction of six (6) lanes dual carriageway to bitumen standard approach roads ofabout 2.5 kilometer," the Minister said.

According to Magufuli, the Kigamboni Bridge is aimed at tapping the vast resources and opportunities currently non-utilized due to poor means of transport across the creek.
He said "after completion, the bridge will be operated as a toll bridge during the concession period expected to last for 25 years".

The Minister said that at the kigamboni side the bridge will connect to a nearby  road of about 1.5 kilometer that will intersect with the Kigamboni Ferry-Kibanda Road.

In the ongoing parliamentary session, the Deputy Minister for Works Dr Harrison Mwakyembe when responding to a question by Faida Bakari (Special Seat - CCM), said that the government expects to ease transport between Dar es Salaam and Kigamboni.

"Plans are well underway to construct the Kigamboni Bridge, but at the moment we'll continue to improve the existing ferries to ensure that there is reliable transport between Kigamboni and Dar es Salaam city centre,"  Mwakyembe said.

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