Kilombero Bridge Daraja la Kilombero (Swahili) | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 8°11′22.46″S36°41′36.68″E / 8.1895722°S 36.6935222°E |
Carries | 2 lanes |
Crosses | Ulanga River |
Locale | 5 km south of Ifakara, Tanzania |
Owner | Government of Tanzania |
Characteristics | |
Total length | 384 metres (1,260 ft) |
Width | 11.3 metres (37 ft) |
History | |
Engineering design by | NIMETA Consult (T) Ltd & Howard Humphreys (Tanzania) Ltd |
Constructed by | China Railway 15th Bureau Group Corporation Consultant Engineer = aarvee associates in partnership with AES |
Construction start | November 2012 |
Construction end | February 2017 |
Construction cost | TZS 53.7 billion (USD 24.6 million) |
Location | |
Kilombero Bridge is a bridge connecting in Kilombero District and Ulanga District of Morogoro Region in Tanzania. It is the longest bridge in Morogoro Region crossing the Ulanga River. [1]
It links the towns of Ifakara and Mahenge. Construction work began in November 2012 and was completed in February 2017. [2] It was innagurated by President John Magufuli on May 5, 2018. [3]
Before the construction of Kilombero Bridge, crossing the Kilombero River was a challenge as it would reliably flood in the rainy season, becoming impassable. Previously, the only way to cross was the Kilombero was by ferry which would have long lines and wait times. [3] With the bridge connecting towns and communities together, it has improved almost all aspects of life for those who use it. Since its construction, it has helped boost the local economy by providing a safe and reliable way to cross the Kilombero river. This has attracted the eye of investors that have created new businesses and jobs in the surrounding area. The bridge has since become a landmark and a tourist attraction, further adding to the economy of the region. [4]
The biggest challenge to the construction of Kilombero bridge was the rugged and remote terrain of the Kilombero River basin. The construction crews had to rely on deliveries of various construction materials by air, land, and water.
The rainy season was another challenge as the Kilombero River regularly floods, causing roads to be washed away or become impassable. Water runoff and subsequent diffusion of chemicals into the Kilombero River from the construction of the bridge was a concern and project managers relied on "meticulous planning and the implementation of sustainable construction practices to minimize the project’s ecological footprint."
Financial worries were also of concern. The construction team had to minimize costs without compromising structural quality. The project's team worked with international development partners and government agencies to ensure a secure and viable revenue stream, and one that was lacking corruption. [4]
Additional lane construction, access road improvement, and safety feature enhancement are all part of the Kilombero Bridge's future. There are also plans to better integrate the bridge into the wider regional transportation network. which will require the construction of feeder roads and inter-modal hubs. Industrial parks and logistic centers are planned surrounding the bridge. [4]
Transport in Tanzania includes road, rail, air and maritime networks. The road network is 86,472 kilometres (53,731 mi) long, of which 12,786 kilometres (7,945 mi) is classified as trunk road and 21,105 kilometres (13,114 mi) as regional road. The rail network consists of 3,682 kilometres (2,288 mi) of track. Commuter rail service is in Dar es Salaam only. There are 28 airports, with Julius Nyerere International being the largest and the busiest. Ferries connect Mainland Tanzania with the islands of Zanzibar. Several other ferries are active on the countries' rivers and lakes.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania is the federation of Lutheran churches in Tanzania and one of the largest Lutheran denominations in the world, with more than 6 million members, or 13% of the Tanzanian population. It is the second largest Lutheran church in the world and the largest Lutheran church in East Africa.
Dodoma Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is the city of Dodoma. Dodoma is located in central Tanzania, bordered by Singida region to the west, Manyara region to the north, Iringa region to the south, and Morogoro region to the east. Dodoma region hosts the nation's capital city, where the legislative assembly of Bunge is based. Dodoma region also hosts one of the largest universities in Tanzania: University of Dodoma. The region is the home of the Tanzanian wine industry, which is the second largest wine industry on the continent after South Africa. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 3,085,625; in the 2012 national census, the population was 2,083,588.
The Tazara Railway, also called the Uhuru Railway or the Tanzam Railway, is a railway in East Africa linking the port of Dar es Salaam in east Tanzania with the town of Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia's Central Province. The single-track railway is 1,860 km (1,160 mi) long and is operated by the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).
Morogoro is a city located in the eastern part of Tanzania, approximately 196 kilometers west of Dar es Salaam. It serves as the capital of the Morogoro Region. Informally, it is referred to as Mji kasoro bahari, which translates to city short of an ocean/port.
The Mahenge Mountains are a mountain range in Ulanga District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania. The town of Mahenge is located in the northeastern mountains. The mountains are southeast of Iringa, in the Eastern miombo woodlands ecoregion.
Kilombero District is a district in Morogoro Region, south-western Tanzania.
Morogoro Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. It covers an area of 70,624 km2 (27,268 sq mi). and is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Ireland. Morogoro Region is bordered to the north by the Manyara Region and Tanga Region, to the east by the Pwani and Lindi Regions, to the south by the Ruvuma Region and to the west by the Iringa Njombe and Dodoma Regions. The regional capital is the municipality of Morogoro. According to the 2022 national census, the region had a population of 3,197,104.
Ifakara is a town in the Kilombero District, Morogoro Region, south central Tanzania. It is the headquarters of the Kilombero District administration and the main trading centre for Kilombero and Ulanga districts. The town is located near the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) line, at the edge of the Kilombero Valley, a vast swampland flooded by the mighty Kilombero River.
Arusha City Council is one of seven administrative districts of Arusha Region in Tanzania. It is surrounded to the south, west and north by Arusha Rural District and to east by Meru District. The district covers an area of 267.0 km2 (103.1 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Cayman Islands. The district capital is the city of Arusha. As of 1994, Arusha District was the wealthiest district in Tanzania. According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Arusha Urban District was 617,631.
Kihansi Hydroelectric Power Station, is a 180 megawatts (241,384 hp) hydroelectric power station located in Kilombero District of southeast Morogoro Region in southern Tanzania. The power station is one of the largest dams in the country. The Tanzanian electricity company, Tanesco operates the power station on behalf of the government of Tanzania.
A360 Lena Highway or The Amur-Yakutsk Highway is a federal highway in Sakha (Yakutia) in Russia, connecting Yakutsk with the Trans-Siberian Railway corridor near Skovorodino. The road was built in stages between 1925 and 1964.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tanzania:
The Ulanga River, also known as the Kilombero River, rises in the highlands of the southwest of Morogoro Region, Tanzania, on the eastern slope of the East African Rift. The river flows northeast along the northeastern border of the Lindi Region before it flows into the Rufiji River. The Rufiji eventually flows into the Indian Ocean on the southern coast of the Pwani Region.
Kibaha is one of nine administrative districts of Pwani Region in Tanzania. The name means '"it is here" in Zaramo. The district covers an area of 1,502 km2 (580 sq mi). Kibaha is bordered to the northeast by Kibaha Urban District and the north by Chalinze District. The district is bordered to the southeast by the Kisarawe District, On the western side the district is bordered by Morogoro District of Morogoro Region. The district seat (capital) is the town and ward of Mlandizi. According to the 2022 census, the district has a total population of 123,367.
Ulanga District is one of the six districts of the Morogoro Region of Tanzania. the administrative seat is in Mahenge. It covers 24,460 square kilometres (9,444 sq mi) of which 4,927 square kilometres (1,902 sq mi) is in forest reserves. Ulanga District is bordered to the north and west by the Kilombero District, to the east by the Lindi Region and to the south by the Ruvuma Region.
The Taemas Bridge is a two-lane road bridge that carries the Wee Jasper Road across the Murrumbidgee River, at the settlement of Taemas, near Wee Jasper in the Yass Valley Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The bridge crosses on the river just before it enters Lake Burrinjuck, which has been created by the Burrinjuck Dam. The bridge is a key part of the road between Yass and Wee Jasper, and from there, to Tumut. The bridge is located approximately 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Yass and 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Wee Jasper. The property is owned by Transport for NSW. Under the Heritage Act, 1977 (NSW) s 170, the bridge was added to the New South Wales State agency heritage register on 18 August 2005.
The Mtwara Development Project is a major infrastructure development project involving southern Tanzania, northern Mozambique, eastern Malawi and Eastern Zambia. The goal of this project is to provide road, rail and waterway access from the surrounding region to the Port of Mtwara. The region and the corridor has been neglected by the respective governments for over 40 years and the recent discovery of oil, gas and various minerals has kick started the development of the project. A road and rail link is to be built from the port of Mtwara to Mbamba Bay on Lake Nyasa to link Malawi to the corridor and further road links into Mozambique will facilitate access to northern Mozambique.
Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station is a hydroelectric dam under construction and partially operational across the Rufiji River in eastern Tanzania. Although controversial, the government approved the plans in 2018. The power station is expected to have an installed capacity of 2,115 megawatts (2,836,000 hp) and to produce 5,920 GWh of power annually. As of July 2024, three of the nine turbines have been turned on, generating 662 megawatts. The project, power station and dam are owned by and will be managed by the government owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO). Construction began in 2019 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
The Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is a railway system, under construction and partially in operation, serving Tanzania and linking it to the neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, and through these to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as part of the East African Railway Master Plan. The new, electrified standard gauge railway is intended to replace the outdated metre-gauge railway system.