Arusha — One year after it kicked off, the multi-million dollar Arusha-Namanga road project appears to be progressing at a slow pace.

Motorists and other travellers along the 110 kilometre long road feel that construction of the highway was not moving ahead as anticipated.

High flying dust now characterise the entire stretch of the Great North Road after removal of the old tarmac layer and clearing for diversion roads.

Motorists interviewed said it was now taking more than three hours to civer the distance between Arusha and Namanga as opposed to the past.

Rehabilitation of the road is undertaken by the China Geo Engineering Company LImited at the cost of $60 million (Sh82 billion), being a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

An on the spot survey by The Citizen last week indicated that most of the civil works are still concentrated on creation of diversion roads and construction of culverts.

Given the pace of the work, some people in Arusha are wondering if the project would be completed in July 2011, less than two years to come.

When contacted, the project manager Mr Xu Hui admitted that the project implementation has been slowed by a number of factors but confirmed that its deadline remains the same.

"The completion date is July 13, 2011 and is still on schedule," he said, adding that so far 18 per cent of the civil works have been completed.

He dispelled fears the project would fall behind schedule, disclosing that the first tarmac laying would start at some sections beginning October this year.

Mr Xu noted that contrary to the initial days, the firm now has enough construction equipment, totalling 230 units of heavy duty machinery.

Early this year, another Chinese firm official revealed that they were having problems in getting the machineries to the site from overseas due to long procurement procedures.

However, Mr Xu admitted during an interview recently that shortage of water due to inadequate rains this year was to blame for the slow construction pace.

He said currently - the height of the dry season - water for on-going civil works most has to be sourced from Arusha and Namanga township.

"Ferrying water is not only expensive but we don't get enough quantity,"he pointed out, saying the situation could normalise with the onset of the rainy season.

Engineers say construction of each kilometre of tarmac road needs at least 2,000 litres of water.

Already over 20 earthen dams have been dug along the entire route to tap rain water for the construction work.

Between 300 and 400 local staff being technicians, engineers, mechanics, drivers, machine operators, surveyors have been recruited for the job.

The Arusha-Namanga road, the main cross border link with Kenya and beyond, was first tarmaced in the 1950s.