First toll expressway project in Tanzania to begin in 2023

Construction of the first toll expressway in Tanzania is set to begin in 2023. Country’s Minister for Works and Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa revealed the report during the opening of the 15th Annual Joint Transport Sector Review Meeting (JTSR 2022).

The expressway will be a 215-kilometer road that will run from Kibaha to Morogoro. It also run alongside the current normal highway and will have two lanes on each side, thus becoming a model for enhancing rapid movement in elevating the country’s road infrastructure. Minimum driving speed would be 120 kilometers per hour, and that there would be no humps.

Public-private partnership (PPP)

According to the Minister, by April or May next year a contractor will set to commence works.  The road will be built through a public-private partnership (PPP). This is part of government’s mission to involve the private sector in transportation infrastructure construction. the new expressway will be funded and run by a private investor.

“An investor will be charging a toll fee for those who would wish to drive through it. To pass on this road is optional because the normal road will still be in use. Pooling of resources between the private sector, the government and development partners will speed up the construction of railways, roads, airports and ports,” said Prof Makame.

Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) acting chief executive officer, Mr Kingdom Mbangula, said procurement for the project had started and the transaction advisor was making project documentation.

The minister also hinted plans to change the status of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (Tazara) and the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) to pave the way for the private sector to participate in the railway transport service by purchasing carriages and operating them.