Construction of a four-lane road linking Sakina section of Arusha City with Tengeru Township in Meru has started and the massive infrastructure whose works kicked off last Thursday is aimed at easing congestion along Arusha-Moshi highway.

The four-lane, two track motorway, whose works are kicking off in near Tengeru is part of the implementation of the proposed multinational Arusha-Holili highway which is to extend into Kenya and join the Taveta-Voi road project under the East African Community.

Multilateral projects' manager of the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), Eng Deusdedit Kakoko called upon Arusha residents particularly those living along the Arusha-Moshi highway to provide all the necessary cooperation when it comes to paving way for the construction of the four-lane road.

The task to build the long-awaited road sections has been awarded to a South Korean-based construction firm-Hanil-Jiangsu JV and its consultant engineer, Cheil Engineering Co (Korea). The Korean's firm will also be assisted by a Tanzanian construction firm-Doch Limited.

Engineer Kakoko urged service providers to ensure they remove all the utilities which are located within 22.5 meters from the center of the road; "This is part of the implementation of the regional road project, which on Tanzanian side it will be implemented in two phases," he said.

"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. The project is expected to be completed in 16 months from now; that is October 2016."

The Acting Regional TANROADS' Manager, Ngeleja Joshua said that the completion of the four-lane road will give a room for the construction of the Arusha-bypass road section and is expected to cost nearly 70 million dollars.

"We have compensated all people, who were to be affected by the road construction works," he said, adding: "We have started with this section of the road because people living on the proposed Arusha-Bypass road are yet to be compensated."

The manager added that the government is to allocate more than 21bn/- for compensating people living on the bypass road.

The second phase will involve construction of a road section from Tengeru to Usa River area which is about 8.1km, and thereafter rehabilitation of Usa River -Holili road (93.9 km) as well as construction of the road to Kilimanjaro International Airport (5.8 km).

He said the project is aimed at improving road connectivity between Tanzania and Kenya as part of East African road network.

Posted on : 30 Nov,-0001