Kigongo–Busisi Bridge

The Kigongo–Busisi Bridge, also referred to as the Mwanza Gulf Bridge, is a bridge under construction in Tanzania. When completed as expected in 2024, it will span 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) across the Gulf of Mwanza, linking the areas of Kigongo in the Mwanza Region and Busisi in the Geita Region, cutting crossing time from thirty-five minutes by ferry to four minutes by automobile. It is reported to be the longest bridge in East Africa and the sixth-longest on the African continent.[1][2] The bridge forms a part of the Tanzanian Trunk Road T4. As part of this road infrastructure project, a 35 kilometres (22 mi) tarmacked road will be constructed to link the eastern end of the bridge to the city of Mwanza.[3][4]

Kigongo–Busisi Bridge
Coordinates02°43′29″S 32°52′21″E
CarriesUsagara–Busisi–Ibisabageni Road (T4)
CrossesGulf of Mwanza
LocaleKigongo, Tanzania to Busisi, Tanzania
Official nameKigongo–Busisi Bridge
Characteristics
MaterialSteel, concrete
Total length3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi)
Width28.45 metres (93.3 ft)
History
Construction start7 December 2019
Construction costUS$308.88 million
Opened2024 Expected
Location

Location

The geographical coordinates of the Kigongo–Busisi Bridge are 02°43'29.0"S, 32°52'21.0"E (Latitude:-2.724722; Longitude:32.872500).[5]

Overview

Before the construction of this bridge, there was no road link between Kigongo and Busisi. A ferry was the only means of connection between the two sides. The ferry takes 35 minutes to travel the distance, but pre-boarding, boarding, travel, and disembarking can last as long as three hours. An average of 1,600 automobiles cross the Gulf of Mwanza using the ferry, every 24 hours. That number is expected to increase to 10,200 very 24 hours, when the bridge is completed, according to the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS).[3]

In 2019, the government of Tanzania contracted a consortium of two Chinese state-owned engineering and construction companies to design and build this transport infrastructure project. The two firms are China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway 15th Bureau (CR15B).[3][6]

Construction costs and timeline

At the start of construction in December 2019, the contract price was reported as TSh:699 billion, fully funded by the Tanzanian government, with completion initially planned for 2023.[3] In July 2021, the progress of works was reported at 27 percent. At that time, the contract price was reported as US$308.88 million. The new completion date was reported as 2024.[7]

As of July 2022, completion was estimated at 47.3 percent. At that time, a total of 776 jobs had been created by the project, of which 720 jobs (92.8 percent) were filled by Tanzanians and 56 jobs (7.2 percent) were taken up by non-Tanzanians.[8]

See also

References
  1. Tanzania Invest (9 December 2019). "Construction of Kigongo-Busisi Bridge on Lake Victoria Start". Tanzania Invest. Dar es Salaam. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  2. Bridgeweb (16 December 2019). "Work begins on 3.2km bridge over Lake Victoria". Bridge Design & Engineering. United Kingdom. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  3. PPRA of Tanzania (7 December 2019). "JPM flags off construction of Kigongo to Busisi bridge". Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) of Tanzania. Dar es Salaam. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  4. Google (6 July 2021). "Road Distance Between Kigongo, Mwanza Region, Tanzania And Mwanza City, Tanzania" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  5. Google (6 July 2021). "Location of Kigongo–Busisi Bridge, Tanzania" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  6. Rose Mirembe (4 August 2019). "Tanzania signs deal on new bridge to cut time on Central Corridor". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  7. The East African (5 July 2021). "Port users set for better services as EA states battle for dominance". The EastAfrican. Nairobi. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  8. The Citizen Tanzania (5 July 2022). "'Construction of Kigongo- Busisi Bridge halfway done,' says Tanroads". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
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