Tanzania’s Msalato International Airport project has reached a combined contract value of TZS359.35 billion, with construction of its two main packages expected to be completed by the end of December, Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) said on Thursday.
Tanroads Director General Mohamed Besta said the first package, covering the runway, taxiways, aircraft parking apron and peripheral roads, was about 89 percent complete and is scheduled for completion on December 27.
The package has a contract value of TZS164.4 billion.
“The infrastructure package is expected to be completed on December 27, while the buildings package will be completed on December 30,” Mr Besta told journalists at the airport site in Dodoma.
The second package, valued at TZS194.95 billion, was about 79 percent complete. It includes the passenger terminal, air traffic control tower, electrical substation, backup power facilities, meteorological station and rescue and firefighting services facility.
Together, the two packages represent an investment of about TZS359.35 billion.
The project is being financed by the Tanzanian government with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of efforts to expand air transport infrastructure and strengthen Dodoma’s role as a domestic and international transport hub.
Mr Besta said the airport had already undergone flight tests, while procedures governing aircraft arrivals and departures had been completed.
“The airport is physically ready to handle operations, but there are still certification procedures and international publication requirements that have to be completed,” he said.
He said the remaining certification process would continue towards the end of the year, alongside completion of the construction works.
The airport is being built to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Code 4E standards, allowing it to accommodate large aircraft.
Mr Besta said the facility had already demonstrated its operational capacity when more than 10 aircraft carrying African leaders landed, parked and departed during a major presidential event in Dodoma.
Beyond passenger traffic, the airport is expected to support cargo transportation, tourism, investment and agricultural exports.
“We want Tanzanians, especially the people of Dodoma, to see the airport as an economic opportunity,” Mr Besta said, urging businesses to prepare to use air transport to move goods and agricultural products to wider markets.
The project has also generated about 9,000 jobs for Tanzanians, including professionals, technicians and general workers, according to Tanroads.
A second phase is planned to extend the runway and install large cold-storage facilities to support international trade in perishable agricultural products.
The airport is also expected to strengthen connections between Dodoma and other parts of the country through road and Standard Gauge Railway networks.
Mr Besta said the airport’s development would therefore extend beyond aviation by supporting trade and investment in the capital and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, construction of the Jangwani Bridge in Dar es Salaam has reached 42 percent, with the project moving from deep foundation works to the superstructure.
“The deep foundation excavation is now complete, and we are moving to the superstructure,” Mr Besta said.
The bridge is intended to improve traffic movement along the busy Jangwani corridor and reduce disruptions caused by flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
Tanroads is also preparing for potentially heavy rains between October and December, with regional managers instructed to identify accident-prone and flood-risk areas and coordinate preventive measures with local authorities.
About TZS40 billion has been allocated for preparedness and emergency responses linked to the anticipated rains.
Mr Besta said additional funding could be sought if the allocation proved insufficient.
“If the TZS40 billion is not enough, we can seek additional funding through the Roads Fund Board, while the Ministry of Finance can also provide support where necessary,” he said.
He cited previous emergency interventions, including about TZS800 billion mobilised through a World Bank-supported mechanism that helped finance the construction of 81 bridges following severe flooding.
Mr Besta urged motorists to exercise greater caution during the rainy season.
“As the rains increase, caution must also increase,” he said.