Stone arch bridges in Tanzania improve mobility and reduce emissions

17-10-2021

Seventy stone arch bridges will be built in and near Kigoma, Tanzania, with the aid of the Belgian development agency Enabel. This initiative is part of Enabel's Sustainable Agriculture Kigoma Region Project (SAKiRP) and will improve "access to agricultural commodities markets". About 30 stone arch bridges are already built. Building such bridges improves mobility of farmers to markets, children to school and patients to hospitals. 

Furthermore, using local stone is environment-friendly, because much less CO2 is emitted than when using concrete, and it is also cheaper. The bridges are built according to the Roman design that has stood the test of time, and are beautifully integrated in the natural environment. Building is more labour-intensive but this is an advantage, as it creates working opportunity and locals feel they contribute to progress in their own neighbourhood. 

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