Infrastructure

JP Magufuli Bridge Opens as East Africa’s Longest

The 3.2-kilometre bridge replaces a decades-old ferry system.

Updated on

June 19, 2025

Tanzania has completed construction of the JP Magufuli Bridge, also known as the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge, a landmark infrastructure project that now holds the record as the longest bridge in East and Central Africa.

Stretching 3.2 kilometres across the Gulf of Mwanza on Lake Victoria—with an additional 1.66 kilometres of approach roads—the bridge is set to drastically transform transportation in the country’s northwestern corridor.

Constructed entirely with government funding amounting to over $300 million, the bridge replaces a decades-old ferry system that previously connected Kigongo in Mwanza Region to Busisi in Geita.

On average, the ferry handled 1,600 vehicles and more than 2,000 passengers per day—journeys that could take up to three hours including boarding delays. With the new bridge in place, that crossing now takes just under five minutes.

“This bridge is not just a connection between two shores. It is a strategic artery for national development,” said Engineer Doroth Mtenga, acting chief executive of the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads). “It will open up the Lake Zone, improve access to markets, and boost cross-border trade with neighbouring countries.”

Built by a joint venture between China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway 15th Bureau, the project includes a 520-metre low-pylon cable-stayed section and was designed to support traffic speeds of up to 120 km/h.

The bridge is 28.45 metres wide, with dual carriageways, pedestrian walkways, emergency lanes and central medians—making it one of the most modern road bridges in the region.

The structure is engineered to carry loads of up to 160 tonnes and is expected to have a lifespan exceeding 100 years. According to Tanroads, it will accommodate over 10,000 vehicles per day once fully operational.

Crucially, the bridge has been credited with building domestic technical capacity. Over 700 Tanzanians were employed during its five-year construction period, most of whom received on-site training in civil engineering and project management.

Minister for Works Abdallah Ulega highlighted this during a recent site inspection, noting that “engineers like Katelula Kaswaga, who joined the project at inception, are now leading similar developments in Simiyu and Pangani. This is how you build lasting expertise.”

Environmental concerns were also addressed. Engineers used cofferdam techniques that eliminated the need for underwater concrete pours, thereby minimising disruption to aquatic life in Lake Victoria.

The bridge forms part of the Tanzanian Trunk Road T4 and is expected to accelerate growth in mining towns like Geita and Sengerema, while boosting trade routes toward Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.