In a landmark infrastructure development for the region, Tanzania’sMagufuli Bridgeis now fully operational in 2026, transforming how people and goods move across Lake Victoria and reshaping trade routes acrossEast Africa. Officially opened to traffic in June 2025, the bridge stretches about 2 miles across the southern end ofLake Victorialinking the districts of Misungwi and Sengerema in north-westernTanzania.
Before the bridge was built, there was no road link between Kigongo and Busisi. The bridge now slashes travel times from two to three hours by ferry to just under five minutes by road.
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The project was fully financed by theTanzaniangovernment and was built by a joint venture between two Chinese companies, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and China Railway 15th Bureau.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation said in a press release that the bridge "drastically lowers cross-lake transport costs by 10% to 15%."
The project cost over TZS 700 billion which is roughly £199million. The bridge officially opened to traffic on June 19, 2025. The inauguration was led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The bridge is expected to benefit the over one million people living around Lake Victoria.
The bridge is also expected to enhance trade links between Tanzania and its neighbouring countries including Rwanda,Burundi, Uganda, and theDemocratic Republic of Congo.
Construction started in 2019 and it was first named the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge. It was later renamed in honour of late President John Pombe Magufuli who launched the project before his death.
The structure is Africa's longest extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge and reportedly the second longest bridge with a stay cable system after Egypt's Suez Canal Bridge.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
