The main span connection of the Magufuli Bridge in Tanzania, built by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC), has been completed. As a result, after more than four years of construction, the longest low-pylon cable-stayed bridge in Africa has now been fully connected.
The Magufuli Bridge [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The Magufuli Bridge is a flagship project of China-Africa cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and a key national project in Tanzania. Located on the southern shore of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, the bridge spans 4.66 kilometers, with a dual carriageway designed for speeds of 120 km/h. The main bridge, a 520-meter, three-pylon, dual-cable plane low-pylon cable-stayed structure, consists of 123 sections.
Throughout the construction process, the project team adhered strictly to quality control standards, implementing precise adjustments for the final connection, and ensuring the main span was connected with millimeter-level precision.
The building team focused on “green construction” and developed innovative eco-friendly building techniques. Workers pioneered the use of a proprietary underwater flexible cofferdam for pile cap construction in Africa, eliminating the need for underwater concrete pours and minimizing the environmental impact on Lake Victoria’s water quality.
Since inception, CRCC has actively fulfilled its social responsibilities, training over 200 local managers and technical workers and creating more than 1,600 jobs annually. The project has also engaged nearly 20 subcontractors and over 100 suppliers, fostering local economic participation. Regular skills training sessions have equipped Tanzanian workers with technical expertise in rebar work, welding, carpentry and concrete work, enhancing local construction capabilities.
The bridge is expected to open to traffic by the end of 2024. Once operational, it will be the first bridge over Lake Victoria and will serve as a vital transportation hub connecting Tanzania’s Mwanza region with neighboring Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)