Construction of the 92-kilometre Lusahunga-Rusumo road has reached 69 per cent, with the upgraded route expected to ease the movement of goods and people between Tanzania and key markets in the Great Lakes region.
The project, which links Tanzania to Rwanda through the Rusumo border, is also expected to improve connections with Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, potentially reducing transport costs and delays along a major regional trade corridor.
The road forms part of Tanzania's efforts to improve transport infrastructure serving East African trade, particularly for agricultural produce, manufactured goods and minerals moving between the country and its neighbours.
Mr Emmanuel Luchemba, an engineer with the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) in Kagera, said completion of the project would improve the efficiency of transporting goods and people while supporting economic activity along the corridor.
He said better road infrastructure would benefit sectors including agriculture, trade, transport and mining by making it easier to move products and resources to markets.
“Completion of this road will strengthen the movement of people and goods between Tanzania and neighbouring countries,” Mr Luchemba said.
For traders and transporters, one of the immediate expected benefits is lower vehicle operating costs and shorter travel times, although the actual impact will depend on traffic volumes, border procedures and the efficiency of related transport infrastructure.
Mr Luchemba said the project was being built to