Arusha Bypass which is a part of the ongoing Arusha-Holili (Tanzania)-Taveta-Voi (Kenya) Road project has been inaugurated. The 42.4-kilometer road section was inaugurated by President Samia Suluhu and her Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta.
The ceremony took place in Ngaramtoni, on the outskirts of the city. It was attended by Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud of Somalia. Prime Ministers Eduardo Girente of Rwanda and Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde of DR Congo as well as South Sudan’s Presidential Affairs Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin were also present.
The inauguration was carried out on the sidelines of the East African Community heads of State summit. This was the first for DRC since it became a full-fledged member of the regional bloc. Somalia’s President Mohamud was at the summit as a special guest to renew his country’s push to join the EAC.
The Arusha Bypass encircles the city on its western and southern outskirts. It is one of the projects started by the East African Community (EAC). According to Rogatus Mativila, CEO of Tanroads, a total of Sh197 billion was committed to the project which also included the construction of seven bridges.
According to President Samia, the Arusha Bypass connects the northern Tanzanian regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, and Tanga with the region through the Arusha-Holili-Taveta highway.
Reported earlier
Jun 2015
Construction of the four-lane Arusha-Holili-Taveta road commences
Works on the four-lane Arusha-Holili-Taveta road that is expected to link the Sakina section with Tengeru Township in Arusha, Tanzania have commenced. This will see the traffic along the Arusha-Moshi highway decongest and help improve road connectivity between Tanzania and Kenya as part of the East African road network.
The construction of the Arusha-Holili-Taveta road is part of the creation of the regional roads that are projected to be carried out in two phases.
“This is part of the implementation of the regional road project, which on the Tanzanian side will be implemented in two phases. In this first phase, we have started with the construction of this four-lane way from Sakina suburb to Tengeru Township along the busiest Arusha-Moshi highway,” said the projects Manager of the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), Eng Deusdedit Kakoko.
The second phase will involve the construction of a road section from Tengeru to the Usa River area which is about 8.1 km, and thereafter rehabilitation of the Usa River-Holili road (93.9 km) as well as the construction of the road to Kilimanjaro International Airport (5.8 km).
A two-track motorway will be part of the construction and is expected to extend into Kenya and join the Taveta-Voi road project under the East African Community (EAC).
The Arusha-Holili-Taveta road which is anticipated to be complete by October 2016 is being undertaken by a South Korean-based construction firm, Hanil-Jiangsu JV, and its consultant engineer, Cheil Engineering Company (Korea).
According to the acting Regional TANROADS Manager, Mr. Ngeleja Joshua, a Tanzanian construction firm, Doch Limited will give a helping hand to the Korean company.
Once the four-lane Arusha-Holili-Taveta road is complete, the construction of the Arusha-bypass road section will begin and it is expected to cost nearly US$ 70m.
Oct 2015
Boost for EAC as construction of a major road linking Kenya and Tanzania launched
East Africa integration has received a boost following plans to construct a major road linking Kenya and Tanzania.
The road project that will be funded by African Development Bank, was launched by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete. The road will link East Africa to the northern corridor.
The road construction project which is intended to reduce the time taken for goods to be transported specially from the port of Mombasa to Arusha will increase the imports and strengthen the ties between countries. It will link Kenya to Tanzania and reduce the distance from Mombasa port to Bujumbura, Burundi, by 400km.
This initiative will increase the imports between Burundi and Rwanda through the Mombasa port and cut transport costs due to the reduced distance. It will be cheaper for northern Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo to import and export goods through Mombasa using the new road compared to Dar es Salaam port.
During the project launch, President Jakaya Kikwete told the residents that the multi-national Arusha-Holili-Taveta-Mwatate road construction is going to be a game-changer for people in both Taita-Taveta and Moshi/Arusha.
“This road is a vital link and an important road for both Kenya and Tanzania in particular the Southern parts of Tanzania that rely heavily on import and exports through the Port of Mombasa,” said Kikwete.
The construction of the road linking Kenya and Tanzania will boost the connectivity and trade necessary for EAC integration.
Oct 2015
Construction of the Arusha-Holili highway, Tanzania postponed to find suitable contractor
Construction works on the Arusha-Holili highway have been pushed until April 2015. The delay has been attributed to the long procedure in vetting the suitable contractor for the project and the finalization of other technical details.
The project had been estimated to cost USD 560m, out of which the African Development Bank (AfDB) had granted US$ 224m towards the project.
The 110Km Arusha-Holili highway was to be rehabilitated, but the funds available can only cater for 35km of the road from Arusha-Usa River and 42km of the by-pass within Arusha, according to the principal civil engineer with the East African Community (EAC) Hosea Nyangweso. The Arusha-Holili Highway is an extension of the Taveta-Voi, Arusha-Namanga-Athi-River highway in Kenya. The construction of the roads was to boost East African regional trade. The construction project was being executed under the East African Community (EAC).
The road rehabilitation project was also initialized to create another transport corridor linking Northern Tanzania and neighboring landlocked countries with the port of Mombasa. Construction works were set to start last month.
The road will be made up of a four-lane dual carriageway that connects Arusha City with Holili-Taveta via Moshi and Himo. The Arusha-Holili highway construction project was to be undertaken in two phases. The first phase will see the construction of the 14.2 Km Sakina-Tengeru sections and the 42Km Arusha Bypass Section. In the second phase, 8.1Km of the road will be constructed up to the Usa River.
Sep 2017
Tanzania to upgrade the 14.2km dual carriageway stretch of the Arusha-Holili road
Tanzania is planning to upgrade the 14.2km dual carriageway stretch of the Arusha-Holili road. However, Tanzania is looking to get the project funds from development partners to upgrade the remaining part of the road.
Moreover, the government has made a step of approaching the government of Japan. This is to secure funds for road upgrading towards Moshi. Negotiations are ongoing on how best to extend the road from Tengeru to Usa River; also the rehabilitation of the Kikafu Bridge near Moshi.
Upgrading cost
Arusha-Holili Road is part of the 240km regional road that extends to Voi in Kenya. The road is currently undergoing an upgrade within the framework of the East African Road Project (EARP) at a cost of US$400mn.
Besides, the project is part of the vast network of major roads agenda for massive rehabilitation throughout the East African Community (EAC) bloc to facilitate cross-border trade and movement of people.
The project construction work did kick off in June 2015. The regional leaders did execute the launch in March 2016 during the EAC Heads of State Summit at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge. What’s more, the idea is to create another major transport corridor in the region linking Mombasa Port with northern Tanzania and beyond. Rehabilitation of the Holili/Taveta-Voi stretch in Kenya is almost complete.
Also read: Tanzania launches new agency to improve rural roads
According to Hosea Nyangweso, the Principal Civil Engineer with the EAC Secretariat did decline to talk about efforts to secure funds for road extension works. Alternatively, he did hint at the civil works proposal.
“Rehabilitation of the USA River-Moshi -Holili is not in the immediate implementation plan”, said Hosea Nyangweso. “However, the major civil works beyond Usa River will be realigning of the Kikafu River bridge.”
Road design
Designs are already made, an indication that entirely new bridge construction will soon kick off. In addition, the bridge construction work will go on above the present bridge. The construction will have double-lane approach roads from either side.
Last but not least, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is funding the construction of the dual carriage between Arusha and Tengeru. The bank is the traditional financier of major road projects in East Africa.
