Roads

Tanzania's road network expanded from 108,946 km in 2020 to 144,430 km in 2025^[3], an addition of more than 35,000 km in five years to decongest major cities, improve rural accessibility, and strengthen regional trade corridors.

Roads form the backbone of Tanzania's domestic and cross-border logistics, connecting the Port of Dar es Salaam and inland production zones to landlocked neighbours including Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

The road programme is being executed alongside investments in the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), port capacity enhancement at Dar es Salaam, and new airport development, forming an integrated multi-modal transport strategy that is a central driver of Tanzania's GDP growth outlook.

Road Network Expansion

Tanzania has expanded its road network from 108,946 km in 2020 to 144,430 km in 2025^[3].

This represents an increase of 35,484 km over five years, equivalent to network growth of approximately 32.6% within the period.

The expansion is designed to decongest major cities, improve rural accessibility, and strengthen regional trade corridors linking Tanzania to neighbouring economies.

Continued road investment is one of the main drivers behind the Bank of Tanzania's projection that GDP growth in the second half of 2025/26 will accelerate to more than 6%^[4], alongside investment in railways, sports facilities, and airports.

Major Bridges and Recent Achievements

Alongside the expansion of the road network itself, the Government has delivered a series of strategic bridges that unlock previously constrained corridors.

Recently completed structures include the Tanzanite Bridge in Dar es Salaam, the Wami Bridge in the Coast Region, the Ruhuhu Bridge in Ruvuma, the Mpwapwa Bridge in Dodoma, the Msingi Bridge in Singida, and the Kigongo, Busisi Bridge in Mwanza.

Construction is ongoing for additional major bridges, including Lower Mpiji, Simiyu, and Pangani.

These structures reduce travel times on national trunk routes and improve the reliability of freight movement between production regions, urban centres, and the Port of Dar es Salaam.

Roads in the Integrated Transport System

Roads are a core component of Tanzania's integrated transport infrastructure, working in combination with the SGR, ports, and airports to enhance connectivity and trade logistics.

Once the SGR is fully operational, the rail network will provide a faster, lower-cost alternative to road freight along the Dar es Salaam to Mwanza axis, with onward links to Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC.

Road transport nevertheless remains essential for first-mile and last-mile connectivity, feeding cargo into rail, port, and airport hubs and serving destinations outside the main corridors.

The Government's broader infrastructure programme, including expansion of the road network, is designed to consolidate Tanzania's position as a vital regional trade hub for neighbouring landlocked countries.

Roads and Economic Growth

Public investment in infrastructure, including roads, is identified by the Bank of Tanzania as a primary driver of the country's growth momentum.

BOT estimates that GDP in Mainland Tanzania grew by 5.5% in 2024 and by 5.9% in 2025, with continued expansion projected on the back of investment in railways, roads, airports, and sports facilities, including venues for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that Tanzania will co-host in 2027.

The World Bank forecasts GDP growth of 5.9% in 2026 and 6.1% in 2027^[2], while the IMF projects growth reaching 6.3% in 2026 and 6.5% in 2027^[1], supported in part by continued infrastructure delivery.

Road connectivity underpins the competitiveness of agriculture, mining, and manufacturing by lowering transport costs and expanding access to domestic and regional markets.

Policy Framework and Vision 2050 Alignment

Roads are embedded in Tanzania's long-term development strategy through the Vision 2050 implementation accelerators.

Accelerator 1: Integrated Transport Infrastructure

The strategy calls for the expansion of intermodal networks of rail, roads, ports, and air transport to enhance connectivity and trade logistics.

It also prioritises the development of strategic corridors such as the Central and Southern Corridors and the strengthening of rural, urban linkages.

Infrastructure and Digital Transformation Pillar

Under the Infrastructure and Digital Transformation pillar of the national plan, the Government commits to investing in integrated transport systems covering railways, ports, airports, and roads, alongside electricity generation and transmission and expanded digital and ICT networks.

Roads are also identified among the ongoing investments, alongside energy, water, ports, the SGR, and ICT backbone systems, that reinforce Vision 2050 Flagship Projects and ensure Tanzania's economic transformation is spatially coordinated and sustainably anchored.

Investment Opportunities

The sustained expansion of the road network from 108,946 km in 2020 to 144,430 km in 2025^[3] creates a large and continuing pipeline of civil works, materials supply, and engineering services contracts.

Ongoing construction of major bridges including Lower Mpiji, Simiyu, and Pangani offers opportunities for structural engineering, heavy construction, and specialised equipment supply.

The strengthening of regional trade corridors and rural, urban linkages under the Vision 2050 accelerators opens opportunities in logistics, warehousing, and freight services along the Central and Southern Corridors, complementing the SGR and Dar es Salaam Port capacity enhancements.

As roads decongest major cities and improve rural accessibility, downstream opportunities emerge in road-side services, fuel and CNG distribution, truck and equipment supply, vehicle maintenance, and cross-border transport operations serving Rwanda, Burundi, the DRC, and Uganda.

The increasing use of public-private partnerships to drive investments, cited by the World Bank as a factor accelerating GDP growth^[2], extends to transport infrastructure and offers private capital a route into road-related concessions and service contracts.

Last Update: May 2026

References

1. https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDP_RPCH@WEO/TZA/CHN (Guide reference #4)
2. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/bae48ff2fefc5a869546775b3f010735-0500062021/related/mpo-tza.pdf (Guide reference #21)
3. https://www.mof.go.tz/uploads/documents/en-1749740886-BUDGET%20SPEECH%20ENGLISH%20VERSION%2012.06.2025%20MCHANA-2u%20(1).pdf (Guide reference #29)
4. https://www.bot.go.tz/Publications/Regular/Monetary%20Policy%20Statement/en/2026020710260034.pdf (Guide reference #47)