DAR ES SALAAM ¡ª Tanzanian President John Magufuli on April 19 inaugurated a $135 million Nyerere Bridge built by Chinese in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, saying the bridge will contribute to the country¡¯s economic growth.
¡°The Chinese contractors have done a good job,¡± Magufuli told the Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, Lu Youqing.
Tanzanian President John Magufuli
The President thanked China for the excellent job done by China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) in a joint venture with China Railway Major Bridge Group (CRMBG).
The CRCEG/CRMBG project manager, Zhang Bangxu, said they employed over 5,000 Tanzanians as local foremen and technicians who have gained on-job experience.
¡°They can now be able to manage projects of similar proportions,¡± said Zhang, adding that the construction of the bridge has given CRCEG and CRMBG credibility to undertake other construction works in the east African nation.
The 680 meter-long bridge, the first of its kind in east and central Africa, connects Dar es Salaam¡¯s business district to Nyerere creek.
A part of the Nyerere Bridge is seen in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,. [Photo/Xinhua]
The bridge, measured 32 meters in width, has six lanes, three in each direction. It also has two pedestrian and cyclist lanes with a width of 2.5 meters, one on each side.