The Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) has officially opened the bidding process for six massive road infrastructure projects across the country. Private backers are invited to submit expressions of interest under an ambitious public-private partnership framework.
This infrastructure campaign targets several critical corridors that connect major ports to the hinterland. The state is employing a specific procurement model to execute these projects.
According to an official notice from the Ministry of Works, the projects will utilize the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Maintain and Transfer (DBFOMT) framework. This structural arrangement aims to leverage private capital to expand national capacity.
Among the six flagship developments is the upgrading of the Morogoro to Dodoma Highway. This project covers a distance of 260 kilometres and will expand the existing route into a four-lane highway.
The agency noted that this specific corridor serves as the primary link in the central corridor. It connects the commercial hub of Dar es Salaam to the capital city of Dodoma, where traffic demand remains consistently high.
A second major project involves upgrading the 384-kilometre road stretching from Handeni through Kiberashi, Chemba, and Kwa Mtoro to Singida. This extensive route will be constructed to bituminous standards.
It is designed to serve as the shortest route from the Tanga port to inland regional markets, including the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Burundi. TANROADS has designated this as a toll road dedicated specifically for trucks.
Additionally, the Chalinze to Segera and Tanga Road will be upgraded to four lanes. Spanning 245 kilometres, this highway acts as the main link within the northern corridor, linking agricultural and industrial zones directly to the Tanga port.
Safety concerns are also being addressed through targeted civil works. The state has included a 27-kilometre bypass at the Kitonga Escarpment.
This short section aims to improve regional traffic flow by completely bypassing the notorious Kitonga escarpment. The existing pass is heavily prone to vehicular crashes and chronic traffic congestion because of its steep grades and sharp curves.
Urban congestion in the commercial capital is also a priority under the new procurement call. Two major expressways are planned for Dar es Salaam to ease logistical bottlenecks.
A 42-kilometre expressway will be built from the Dar es Salaam Port to Kibaha. The primary objective of this development is to completely eliminate truck congestion along that busy transit path.
Within the city itself, a shorter 10-kilometre expressway will connect the Dar es Salaam Central Business District (CBD) to Julius Nyerere International Airport. This corridor aims to optimize traffic flow for travelers moving between the city centre and the international aviation hub.
International and local private parties, including investors, lenders, and developers, have been invited to participate. Interested entities may express interest in one or more of the listed infrastructure projects.
Evaluation criteria require companies to provide certified copies of legal entity documents and comprehensive company profiles detailing previous experience in similar projects. Experience in highway projects implemented under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework will be acceptable.
Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega recently briefed the National Assembly regarding these developments, confirming that the state is prioritizing strategic infrastructure to open up the country. The official notice sets a clear framework for long-term private sector participation in Tanzania.
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