The President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday inaugurated the Chinese-built JP Magufuli Bridge Project. This mega bridge spans Lake Victoria and stands as the longest extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge in Africa.
President Samia Suluhu hailed the bridge as a transformative infrastructure project. She stated that the bridge would cut the travel time across the lake from two hours to five minutes.
Also read: East Africa’s Longest Bridge in Tanzania: The Magufuli Bridge
Magufuli Bridge Project Factsheet
Official name: JP Magufuli Bridge. It was originally known as the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge.
Location: the bridge pans the Mwanza Gulf on Lake Victoria, connecting the towns of Kigongo and Busisi in northwestern Tanzania.
Length: 4.66 kilometers
Cost: around $260 million – $300 million
Construction start date: December 2019 / February 2020
Completion date: the bridge was officially completed in May 2025.
Inauguration date: June 19, 2025, by President Samia Suluhu Hassan
Contractors: China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in collaboration with the China Railway 15 Bureau Group Corporation (CR15G JV)
Also read: Tanzania Completes Construction of Magufuli Bridge, Longest Bridge in East and Central Africa
Specifications:
- Width: 28.45 meters
- Carriageways: Two, each 7.0 meters wide for vehicles.
- Emergency Lanes: 2.5-meter-wide on each side.
- Walkways: 2.5-meter-wide on both sides.
- Median: 2.45-meter separating traffic directions.
- Capacity: Designed to carry 160-180 tonnes, allowing 1,600 vehicles to pass at a time. Additionally, it is designed for speeds up to 120 km/h.
Significance of the JP Magufuli Bridge Project
Furthermore, she mentioned that the bridge will also help boost trade with neighboring countries and East Africa in general.
The 4.66-kilometer Magufuli Brridge was built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and the China Railway 15th Bureau. According to the project’s vice manager Qin Rong, about 95 percent of the workforce was Tanzanian. The involvement of Tanzanians resulted led to skill development and valuable experience to support future national infrastructure development.
Lastly, the Chinese ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian stated that the Magufuli Bridge is a landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative and a model of China-Tanzania cooperation. It greatly highlights its broader significance for China-Africa development.
