A more than Rwf130 billion project to expand and upgrade the Prince House-Giporoso-Masaka road began Tuesday, with authorities expecting the work to ease congestion and reduce travel times along one of Kigali’s busiest transport corridors.
The 10.4-kilometre road will be widened to four lanes in sections and fitted with interchanges, flyovers, underpasses, improved drainage and other infrastructure. The project is expected to take 30 months to complete.
At least 530 properties affected by the expansion have been valued for compensation, with expropriation costs exceeding Rwf30 billion, according to the Rwanda Transport Development Agency.
Yves Bahunde Havugimana, RTDA’s Urban Transport and Regional Integration Programme manager, gave the figures during the groundbreaking ceremony.
The road is an important link between Kigali and routes serving the Eastern Province and the Rusumo border crossing, a major entry point for imports and exports. It also connects several key public facilities, commercial areas and transport hubs in the capital.
The project is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce travel time and strengthen road safety while supporting the movement of people and goods across the city.
Road to have four lanes
The project will be implemented in two main sections.
The first 1.37-kilometre section will upgrade an existing four-lane, two-way road into an interchange layout.
The second section, measuring 9.04 kilometres, will reconstruct and widen the existing two-lane, two-way road into a four-lane, two-way road.
The works will include flyovers, underpasses, interchanges, bridges, culverts, pavement and subgrade works, roadway lighting, drainage systems and traffic management infrastructure.
Chinese company Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Co. Ltd. is the contractor.
The road is classified as an urban arterial road, with a design speed of 60 kilometres per hour on the main lanes and 40 kilometres per hour on frontage roads.
State Minister for Infrastructure Col. Claudien Bizimungu said the completed project would improve traffic flow and connectivity across Kigali.
“These improvements will contribute significantly to better traffic flow, reduce travel time, improve road safety and strengthen connectivity across Kigali,” he said.
Motorists warned of disruption
Authorities have warned motorists and residents to expect traffic disruptions during construction as sections of the road are closed or traffic is diverted.
Bizimungu urged the public to remain patient, use designated diversion routes and follow traffic management instructions.
The ministry also advised motorists to start their journeys earlier to reduce the impact of delays.
The minister called on the contractor, City of Kigali, RTDA, Rwanda National Police and other agencies involved in the project to work closely together to minimise disruption and ensure public safety.
The contract period is 30 months, but Bizimungu challenged the contractor and other stakeholders to find ways of completing the project sooner.
“Given the importance of this road to the people of Kigali, I would like to encourage the contractor and all stakeholders to explore every possible opportunity to complete the works in less than 20 months,” he said.
He also challenged the project team to consider whether the works could be completed within 15 months without compromising quality, safety or value for money.
Rwanda, China share project cost
The project is being implemented under Rwanda-China cooperation.
China is providing more than Rwf95 billion, while the Government of Rwanda is contributing Rwf35 billion, according to Bizimungu.
He said the government would closely monitor the use of its contribution because it is public money.
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi described the project as a major Chinese infrastructure assistance project and said it reflected the long-standing partnership between the two countries.
Gao said the project was identified as a key bilateral initiative by Presidents Xi Jinping and Paul Kagame during Xi’s 2018 state visit to Rwanda.
“In 2018, during his historic state visit to Rwanda, President Xi Jinping, together with President Paul Kagame, jointly identified this project as a key bilateral initiative,” Gao said.
He said the project also reflected commitments under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit.
Gao said the completed road would help reduce transport and logistics costs and boost business activity along the corridor.
He said China was ready to deepen cooperation with Rwanda in infrastructure development.
Road expected to support trade and services
The Prince House-Giporoso-Masaka corridor provides access to Kigali International Airport, Kigali Industrial Zone, Remera Bus Park, Masaka and CHUK hospitals, the Medical Hub, Kabuga Bus Park, Nyandungu Eco-Park and Amahoro Stadium.
It also links to routes leading toward the new Bugesera International Airport and other parts of Kigali.
Bizimungu said the upgraded road would improve access to jobs, markets and essential services while supporting economic activity in the capital.
The project once completed is expected to increase the road’s capacity and improve the movement of people and goods along one of Kigali’s major transport corridors.
