Tanzania will begin construction next year on the expansion of Nelson Mandela Road, a key route linking the Port of Dar es Salaam with regional markets, the government said.
The government is finalising procedures to procure a contractor for the project, which is expected to ease congestion along one of Dar es Salaam’s busiest transport corridors and improve the movement of cargo from the port.
The Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) plans to upgrade the section between the Kijazi Interchange and Nyerere Bridge, expanding it to eight lanes comprising six mixed-traffic lanes and two dedicated Bus Rapid Transit lanes.
Julius Msofe, Tanroads’ BRT project coordinator, said procurement was still under way, with the agency completing Tender Board procedures before inviting contractors.
The design review for the mixed-traffic section under BRT Phase II has been completed, Msofe said.
Construction is expected to take about 30 months and will include new bridges at Luhanga and Msimbazi, making the project a broader transport infrastructure upgrade rather than a simple road-widening exercise.
Key trade corridor
The upgrade is expected to strengthen the connection between the Port of Dar es Salaam and Tanzania’s national road network, which serves several landlocked countries in eastern and southern Africa.
The port handles domestic and transit cargo for seven landlocked neighbours; Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Nelson Mandela Road connects to Morogoro Road, a major route carrying cargo towards those markets.
Congestion along the corridor has been a persistent challenge. March 2025 Traffic Time Index data showed that a journey taking 30 minutes under normal conditions could take about 70 minutes during peak periods.
Tanroads acting chief executive Ephatar Mlavi said congestion creates economic costs through lost working hours, higher fuel consumption and increased vehicle wear.
The expanded road is expected to reduce delays and improve the movement of cargo and passengers. Bus operators and truck owners have welcomed the plans while calling for upgrades along other sections of the wider regional trade corridor.
The project forms part of Tanzania’s broader infrastructure investment programme, which includes major developments in energy, transport and other productive sectors.
For businesses dependent on the Dar es Salaam port, improved road capacity could support more predictable cargo movement and strengthen the country’s position as a gateway to regional markets.
Investors and logistics operators are expected to watch the procurement process, financing arrangements and progress on complementary upgrades along the wider corridor.
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