By
Charles Mkoka
Dar
es Salaam – TANROADS is currently implementing an extensive
maintenance project for the first phase of Dar es Salaam’s Bus Rapid Transit
(BRT) infrastructure. The project is being conducted under an Output and
Performance-Based Road Contract (OPBRC) signed on September 7, 2018, and is
managed by contractor M/s Bharya Engineering & Contracting Co. Ltd (BECCO).
Officially launched on April 1, 2019, this five-year project is set to run
until 2024 for TZS 18.509 billion.
Engineer
John Mkumbo, Manager of TANROADS for the Dar es Salaam Region, provided updates
on November 5, 2024, outlining the project’s three core areas: infrastructure
maintenance, rehabilitation of damaged sections, and emergency response work.
The
maintenance work spans 21.4 kilometers along critical routes in the BRT
network, covering Morogoro Road (Ferry to Kimara Mwisho), Kawawa Road (Magomeni
Mapipa to Morocco), and Msimbazi Road (Fire Station to Msimbazi BRT Station).
Key repairs involve asphalt restoration in heavily damaged areas, including
Ubungo Maji, Kibo, Corner, Baruti, Bucha, Korogwe, and Kimara Mwisho. These
sections required milling of the old asphalt and replacement with Superpave
technology (SP 12.5) asphalt, as well as the installation of concrete guard
posts, pedestrian walkways, kerbstones, and bicycle lanes.
TANROADS has also executed emergency works to address unexpected infrastructure damages.
These efforts include clearing mud, sand, and debris from roads and bridges
during floods, and repairing accident-damaged areas along the BRT route.
Ongoing
maintenance under the OPBRC includes repainting road markings, installing road
signs, and performing routine drainage system maintenance. Daily road sweeping,
grass trimming, and vegetation maintenance ensure the BRT infrastructure
remains safe and accessible. Additional work includes pothole patching, bridge
repairs, concrete pole repairs, joint sealing, and maintenance of drainage
systems and green spaces along the project’s 21.4-kilometer stretch.
With
these efforts, Tanroads aims to keep Dar es Salaam’s BRT infrastructure in
optimal condition, ensuring safer and more efficient transport for the city's
residents.