The African Development Bank (AfDB) will contribute USD 223.5 million to finance the construction of a road to connect northern Tanzania with the Mombasa Port in Kenya in an effort to further the process of regional integration and to encourage economic development in both countries.
According to reports, Tanzania will use a portion of the AfDB funding to construct both the Sakina-Tengeru Road to Dual Carriageway (14.1km) and the Arusha Bypass Road.
The Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), who will oversee the construction of the Sakina-Tengeru Road on behalf of the Tanzania Ministry of Works, expects that the completion of the project will have a significant impact on the region.
“It is our hope the investment will also help to address traffic congestion as well as cushion the increase of cars and to make the road able to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles,” said the Arusha Regional TANROADS Manager, Eng. Deusdedit Kakoko, in a recent East African Business Week article.
According to Engineer Patrick Mfugale, CEO of TANROADS, the project is a part of the larger 240 kilometer project that will connect Arusha with Voi town in Kenya and will be implemented under a single contract.