Residents in parts of Dodoma are set to benefit from improved road access and better drainage as the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) expands infrastructure projects aimed at keeping roads passable during heavy rains and easing movement across the rapidly growing city.
The agency is upgrading roads and bridges in several parts of the city, with some of the projects targeting areas that have previously faced poor access and water-related damage during rainy seasons.
TARURA Dodoma District Manager Emmanuel Mfinanga said the works were also intended to make the city’s road network more resilient to extreme weather, including heavy rains associated with El Niño conditions.
He made the remarks during an inspection of projects being implemented by the agency in different parts of Dodoma.
In Ntyuka, TARURA has constructed three stone bridges at a cost of TZS398 million, with a combined length of 14 metres.
Mr Mfinanga said the use of stone structures had enabled the agency to construct three bridges at a lower cost than would have been possible with concrete.
“If concrete had been used, the available funds would have been enough to construct only one bridge,” he said.
The bridges have also improved access for residents living on the other side of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), reducing difficulties in travelling to and from the city.
The agency is also addressing drainage problems along the Ilazo-Mbuyuni road, where an earlier one-kilometre road section was constructed without adequate drainage.
Mr Mfinanga said TZS759 million had been secured to upgrade 250 metres of the road to tarmac standard and construct 1.5 kilometres of drainage channels.
He said the drainage works would help prevent rainwater from damaging the road and improve its reliability during the rainy season.
“Water can cause significant damage to roads when there are no proper drainage systems to control it,” he said.
Another major improvement is the 5.18-kilometre Nala-Viwandani road, which has been upgraded to tarmac standard and fitted with drainage infrastructure and street lights.
The road connects Nala with industrial areas, improving access for residents and businesses and potentially reducing transport difficulties for people involved in economic activities along the route.
Mr Mfinanga urged residents to protect the infrastructure, particularly the street lights, saying their continued use would depend partly on community responsibility.
TARURA is also preparing to implement the Dodoma Integrated Strategic Transport (DIST) project, which is expected to cover several parts of the city and address growing traffic congestion in the city centre.
Mr Mfinanga said the project was necessary as Dodoma continues to expand, with rising population and economic activity putting additional pressure on the existing transport network.
Residents interviewed during the inspection welcomed the projects, saying improved roads and bridges had made it easier to travel, transport goods and conduct businesses.
The projects come as Dodoma continues to experience rapid urban growth, increasing demand for roads and drainage systems capable of supporting both residents and businesses while withstanding the effects of heavy rainfall.