Tanzania's Gigantic 4.66 Km Cross-Lake Bridge Completed

Construction of Tanzania's gigantic cross-lake bridge called Magufuli Bridge, also known as Kigongo-Busisi Bridge or Mwanza Gulf Bridge, has been completed. That was announced by China Railways Construction Corporation (CRCC)that is one of two firms that built the bridge. The other firm is China Civil Engineering Construction Group (CCECG).

According to the announcement, the bridge was completed on October 6, 2024, and is expected to be officially opened to traffic by the end of the year. Construction of the bridge began on February 25, 2020.

Magufuli Bridge is an extra-dosed-cable-stayed 4-lane bridge that entails 3 km of a main bridge over Lake Victoria's Mwanza Gulf and 1.66 km of two approach bridges one on each side, hence total length of 4.66 km. The bridge is the longest of its kind in Africa. However, as just a bridge, it is the 6th longest in Africa but the longest in East Africa.

The bridge links two parts of Tanzania Trunk Road T4 at Kigongo in Mwanza Region and Busisi in Geita Region, that were hitherto the completion of the bridge, separated by Lake Victoria's Mwanza Gulf. The bridge will therefore reduce travel time between Kigongo and Busisi considerably, reportedly from 30 minutes by ferry to just 4 minutes by automobile.

Image: Magufuli Bridge over Mwanza Gulf ensures continuity of T4 westbound vehicular traffic from Usagara to Sengerema and beyond

The new bridge will also provide efficient link between Tanzania and Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, as well as between some parts of Kenya and the latter 3 countries via T4.

Magufuli Bridge is said to have been built at a cost of $309 million, and entirely financed with Tanzania's taxpayers funds.

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