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Tanzania: Transport Chaos As Rains Damage Roads in Arusha
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The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
1 May 2008
Posted to the web 1 May 2008
Zephania Ubwani
Arusha
Transport in Arusha has been thrown into chaos after rains washed away several bridges in the municipality.
Long queues of vehicles along major roads have become the order of the day in the past week and it is not unusual for motorists and commuters to take up to two hours to cover a few kilometres.
The situation has been worsened by the closure of Makongoro Road running from the regional commissioner's office to Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium and the central bus terminal after heavy rains washed away culverts on Naura River.
The swollen river, which passes near the central police station, is now threatening the Tanzania Revenue Authority regional headquarters and other buildings near its banks.
Contractors have been working around the clock in the last two days to unblock culverts and build embankments to protect the TRA building whose foundation is in danger of being eroded.
Another bridge on Themi River was washed away near the Fire area on the southern fringes of the municipality, severing road links between Njiro Hill suburb and the densely populated Unga Limited and Ngarenaro areas.
Arusha residents have expressed their concern over the condition of roads as the municipality readies to host major global conferences from later this month.
Mr Walter Maeda, a prominent businessman criticised the municipal council for the situation, saying some bridges in the municipality were poorly built.
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He accused the authorities of failing to build roads around the municipality to ease traffic congestion despite numerous appeals by residents.
Traffic jams are more pronounced along Sokoine Road, which links the eastern and western parts of the municipality, the Moshi-Namanga road and the one linking the central business district with Njiro Hill.
Major conferences expected to take place in Arusha in the next one month are the Africa Travel Association (ATA) and Leon Sullivan Summit. The latter is slated for early June and is expected to attract about5,000 delegates.
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