Overcoming pandemic challenges, the team behind the largest highway improvement project on Tanzania’s Zanzibar archipelago completed work on time, below budget and with no reported COVID-19 cases in its workforce.

The government’s $32-million project widened and paved nearly 55 km of highways and introduced drainage structures along five routes on Zanzibar’s Unguja Island. 

Because of the archipelago’s remoteness, the project had to import 180 pieces of heavy equipment and most of its materials. Long travel distances, large quantities, customs clearance and shipping uncertainties during the pandemic were all overcome. 

Facing local shortages of sand, soil and rock resources, the team set up a laboratory and business group to work with the country’s natural resources authority to identify suitable borrow pits to meet the demand.

With a Chinese contractor, an Indian-Tanzanian designer and supervision by German and Australian companies, managing the international interfaces was also vital to the project’s success.