China-built J.P Magufuli Bridge, Africa's longest extradosed cable-stayed bridge, opens in Tanzania

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan (third from left) cuts the ribbon to officially open the J.P. Magufuli Bridge at Kigongo in Misungwi District, Mwanza Region, on June 19, 2025. (Photo provided by CCECC)

On June 19, the J.P. Magufuli Bridge—the longest extradosed cable-stayed bridge in Africa—was officially opened to traffic in Tanzania. Constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway 15th Bureau Group, the project was inaugurated by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who led the ribbon-cutting ceremony amid vibrant local singing and dancing. Nearly 10,000 attendees, including Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, former President Jakaya Kikwete, Chinese Ambassador Chen Mingjian, government ministers, diplomats, and community representatives, gathered to witness this historic moment.

Spanning 4.66 kilometers with a four-lane dual carriageway and a design speed of 120 km/h, the Magufuli Bridge features a 520-meter, three-tower extradosed main span built using the balanced cantilever method. The bridge’s pylons are uniquely designed to resemble open arms stretching across Lake Victoria, while its color scheme—green, blue, and gold—draws inspiration from the Tanzanian national flag, symbolizing both national identity and regional openness.

Aerial photo of J.P Magufuli Bridge. (Photo provided by CCECC)

A Strategic Corridor for Regional Prosperity

By linking the Kigongo and Busisi areas in Mwanza Region, the bridge reduces travel time across the lake from over two hours by road or 40 minutes by ferry to just five minutes. It is expected to lower transportation costs by 10–15%, boosting the competitiveness of local industries and driving growth in agriculture, tourism, and trade—benefiting more than one million residents in the Lake Victoria region.

President Hassan hailed the bridge as a significant milestone in Tanzania’s infrastructure development and emphasized its strategic role as a regional corridor connecting Tanzania with Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. She noted that the bridge enhances regional connectivity and opens new avenues for cross-border trade, tourism, and economic integration.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan delivered a speech at the inauguration ceromony of the J.P Magufuli Bridge at Kigongo in Misungwi District, Mwanza Region, Tanzania, June 19, 2025. (Photo provided by CCECC)

A Landmark of Belt and Road Cooperation

In an interview, Chinese Ambassador Chen Mingjian stated that the J.P. Magufuli Bridge is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative and a model of China-Tanzania cooperation. He emphasized that the project fully embodies the principle of “Tanzanian participation, Tanzanian benefit,” and represents an important symbol of the ever-deepening China-Africa partnership in the new era.

The completion and opening of the bridge is a vivid example of building a China-Africa community with a shared future, and a powerful demonstration of strengthened infrastructure connectivity and people-to-people ties between China and Africa.

Throughout the five-year construction process, sustainability and local empowerment remained at the heart of the project. Nearly 95% of the workforce was locally employed, with more than 1,500 skilled workers trained and 3,000 jobs created. Over 30 Tanzanian subcontractors and suppliers were involved, contributing to the development of local industries such as construction materials, transportation, and logistics.

The Magufuli Bridge is not only a vital addition to Tanzania’s transportation network, but also a milestone in the history of China-Africa friendship. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of infrastructure to connect people, foster development, and build a shared future.