The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $232.5-million in loans for the upgrade of the 157.5 km Arusha–Holili/Taveta–Voi road transport corridor in Tanzania and Kenya.
Kenya would receive $113.12-million in funding to upgrade the road from Taveta to Voi, while Tanzania would receive $120-million in funding to upgrade the Aursha to Holili road.
The project, which would be completed by December 2018, was aimed at reducing the cost of transportation and enhancing access to agricultural inputs, larger markets and social services within the East African Community (EAC).
The Arusha–Holili/Taveta–Voi transport corridor was expected to increase the competitiveness of the EAC region and, simultaneously, promote regional integration.
When completed, the corridor would link the port of Mombasa, in Kenya, to northern and northwestern Tanzania and the landlocked countries of Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, providing an alternative route to the sea.
The project would comprise civil works for the construction of the Arusha Bypass (42.4 km) and ‘dualling’ the Sakina¬–Tengeru section (14.1 km), as well as the construction of two roadside amenities at Tengeru, one on either side of the dual carriageway in Tanzania.
It would also entail upgrading the Taveta–Mwatate portion (89 km) and the construction of the Taveta Bypass (12 km) and two roadside amenities, one each at Bura and Maktau along the Mwatate–Taveta road in Kenya.
The AfDB funding represented 89.1% of the overall project cost, with the governments of Kenya and Tanzania contributing a further $15.6-million and $12.3-million respectively to the project.
Further, the Africa Trade Fund has extended a $740 000 grant for a small component for trade facilitation at the Namanga border.
AfDB East Africa Resource Centre regional director Gabriel Negatu said the Arusha–Holili/Taveta–Voi road had been identified in the East African Regional Integration Strategy Paper (RISP 2011-2015) and the East African Transport Strategy and Regional Road Sector Development Programme of November 2011 as a priority for intervention.
“The EAC seeks to improve regional transport infrastructure to support economic and social development programmes in the region, promote tourism and foster regional integration and, at the same time, reduce the cost of doing business by supporting cross-border and international trade,” he added.