Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, is called Africa’s Singapore for its beautiful scenery that attracts international tourists. The Chinese design institute and contractor worked to enhance that reputation while designing and building nearly 55 km of modernized and expanded municipal roads under the watchful eyes of Rwandan officials and the media.
“The urban roads upgrading project addressed traffic congestion, pollution, safety and rider comfort,” says Jean D’Amour Rwunguko, currently Rwanda program operations manager at the nonprofit Bridges to Prosperity, who was the city’s acting director general in charge of engineering works during the expansion. Solutions involve “the overall hygiene of the city, separating vehicles and pedestrians and greening bands,” he adds. The team also used green principles in planning—often reusing existing routes.