Kigamboni bridge ready in July 2015 - Works PS

Expectations that the much awaited Kigamboni Bridge in Dar es Salaam would be ready for use by January next year have been dashed after the government granted a six-month extension to the firm executing the project.

The government said it granted the extension after the firm encountered technical hurdles in installing pillars to support the bridge.

The firm was supposed to complete the bridge in January 2015 but with the extension it means the bridge shall be ready in July 2015.

Works Permanent Secretary Mussa Iyombe, granted the extension after inspecting the project whose implementation officially started in February 2013.

“Due to the challenges the construction firm has faced - which I regard as genuine - the government has thought it wise to grant a six months extension. This is a big project which thousands of people depend on, but it cannot materialise unless the pillars to support the bridge are installed,” he explained.


The PS noted that contractors had expected to reach the required sand at a depth of 64 metres but they were forced to go deeper – to a depth of 84 metres.
The contractors took five months to get to the depth of 84 metres, affecting the project’s implementation schedule.

On the four people who refused to vacate the area – to pave way for the construction of the bridge- Iyombe said Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development ministry has finalised their compensation and once the four are paid, they have to vacate.

The four people refused vacate the area and instead filed a court case.
In another development, the PS has directed Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) to immediately demolish a hotel (Lemira) which is constructed on a road reserve area. He said the hotel should be demolished at the owners own costs.

Commenting on the challenges faced in implementing the bridge project, Mohamed Abdel Bar who is an Engineer with the Arab Consultancy Engineering (ACE), said failure to find sand at the depth of 64 metres has contributed to the firm’s failure to meet the target.

For his part, project manager Karim Mattaka who is also an Engineer with National Social Security Fund (NSSF) assured the PS that the bridge will be completed before the expiry of the extension period.

The multi-billion shilling project’s idea was mooted in 1977, to connect a proposed Kigamboni satellite city with a population of 45,000 people to the rest of the country.

It couldn’t materialise at the time until NSSF decided to fund it. It is estimated to cost US$ 33m (214.6 bn/-).

The bridge was launched by President Jakaya Kikwete in 2012.
The cable stayed bridge (680 metres long and 27.5 metres wide) and its approach roads (2.5 kilometres) are constructed at bitumen standard. The bridge has six lanes and two sidewalks. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN