THE rapid development of ports, industries, and large-scale projects in the Tanga region has led to significant traffic congestion on three major highways: Tanga-Segera, Segera-Korogwe, and Segera-Chalinze.

These roads are increasingly impacted by the surge in vehicle traffic, particularly as heavy trucks transporting goods to and from the port and industrial zones contribute to the growing strain on the region's infrastructure.

In an interview with this journalist, haulers, road users, and economic stakeholders shared their perspectives on the dual impact of this situation, highlighting both the positive and negative economic and social consequences.

Heavy vehicle traffic now exceeds the capacity of the region's infrastructure, especially near port access points, leading to delays for all road users.

One of the main contributors to the congestion is the constant flow of trucks delivering raw materials and finished products to the port and surrounding industrial areas, significantly increasing traffic density.

"Truck deliveries often happen during peak hours, further worsening congestion on already crowded roads. Inadequate road capacity, narrow lanes, and poorly designed intersections also contribute to the traffic jams," explained Mrisho Halidi, a commuter bus driver.

Another challenge is the limited space at Tanga Port, which occupies only a small area. This results in a restricted number of access roads, creating bottlenecks as numerous trucks attempt to enter or exit the port simultaneously.

The congestion has led to longer travel times for commuter buses traveling between Tanga City and other parts of the region. With two-lane roads that can’t accommodate the increasing traffic, these buses face significant delays.

"The government must address the traffic issue," said one economist. "While these developments are positive, the delays and inefficiencies they cause result in economic losses. Time is crucial in business, and these delays are costing companies."

Abuubakari Hamisi Hamadi, Tanga Port Operations Officer, explained that although the port handles between three to five mega-ships of bulk and general cargo each month, the limited capacity for vehicles per turnaround creates delays.

"We allow at least 23 vehicles per turnaround—three of which unload and load cargo at the berths, while the remaining vehicles transport goods to sheds. The rest are parked outside or in lorry parking areas."

Simba Terminals manager Awadh Massawe also discussed the impact of congestion. His company, which uses Tanga Port for cargo offloading, expects to receive at least one ship per month, requiring a fleet of 700 to 800 trucks to transport goods to customers.

Economist Alfred Swai proposed several long-term solutions, including expanding road capacity, creating dedicated lorry lanes, and improving traffic signals near ports and industrial zones.

Swai also suggested implementing truck appointment systems, establishing designated truck entry and exit points, and optimizing traffic flow within port areas.

"Additionally, promoting rail transportation to move goods to and from the port could reduce dependence on road transport," argued Mohamed Salehe, a truck driver.

In addition to Tanga Port, the presence of industries such as three cement factories, Neelkant Chemical Industry, lime processing plants, the EACOP execution project, and bulk oil storage tanks, among others, further contributes to the volume of truck traffic.

Earlier this year, Transport Minister Professor Makame Mbarawa announced government plans to upgrade the railway network in the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions and establish modern Inland Container Depots (ICDs) to alleviate congestion caused by heavy cargo trucks traveling from Tanga Port to neighboring countries.

This initiative was revealed during a press briefing at Arusha Airport ahead of the 73rd Africa Airports Council International (ACI) Conference, scheduled for April 24-30 in Arusha.

The government also plans to invest 420 billion Tanzanian shillings to upgrade the Port of Tanga, which is now outperforming the Port of Mtwara in cargo handling efficiency.