The completion of two bridges in Wanging’ombe District, Njombe Region, is expected to improve year-round connectivity, ease the transportation of agricultural produce and enable residents to access essential services, particularly during the rainy season.
The Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) has completed the 30-metre Wanging’ombe Bridge along the Wanging’ombe–Wangutwa Road and the 26.1-metre Ukomola Bridge on the Ukomola–Ipwani Road.
Before the projects were completed, heavy rains frequently disrupted transport links, cutting off communities and affecting social and economic activities. Some pupils were also unable to attend school because of difficulties crossing flooded areas.
TARURA Wanging’ombe District Manager, Engineer Selemani Mziray, said the projects were implemented to address the challenges that had restricted movement between communities, particularly during the rainy season.
“The construction of these two bridges was prompted by the serious challenges residents faced, especially during the rainy season, when they could not travel from one area to another, leaving some children unable to attend school,” he said.
Mziray said TARURA had also improved drainage systems to ensure rainwater flows through designated channels without damaging road infrastructure, a measure he described as particularly important amid warnings of heavy rainfall.
For residents, the completed bridges are expected to reduce transport disruptions and improve access to markets, schools and healthcare facilities.
Alex Benedict, a resident of Wanging’ombe, commended the Government, through TARURA, for completing the projects, saying the previous transport challenges had affected both livelihoods and community activities.
“During the rainy season, we could not transport our crops, and various social activities came to a standstill. With the completion of these projects, the roads are now passable throughout the year, enabling us to continue with our daily activities,” he said.
Another resident, Leonard Kayagala, said the bridges would help address difficulties previously experienced by pupils travelling to school and residents seeking essential services, particularly healthcare.
He said reliable road access would ease the movement of people and goods, create better opportunities for economic activities and allow residents to reach essential services without the disruptions that occurred during the rainy season.
The projects highlight the importance of reliable rural road infrastructure in connecting communities to markets and public services, while supporting local economic activities and improving residents’ access to opportunities.