I was rally hoping that the bridge would not be called Magufuli Bridge. There were rumours that it would be. In the end it was called Tanzanite Bridge, built by the Koreans for the Tanzanians. It has been under construction ever since I have been in Tanzania, and like the railway to Morogoro, its construction never seemed to have an end date.
Then I see on Tik Tok that people are driving and walking over it. I am excited. No more roadworks on Toure Drive and a quicker entry into town. The bridge is designed to ease the traffic over Selander Bridge, a massive bottleneck heading out of town towards Masaki, Kinondoni and in the direction of Bagamoyo.
The new bridge takes rich people from central Dar to Masaki, It’s a very expensive short cut home for politicians, ambassadors and country directors on the peninsular.
I cycled to the bicycle man where I got my tyres inflated and chain oiled ready for the journey. Toure Drive was a joy – I spent the whole time cycling on a magnificent pavement free of the dangers of getting run over. Then I was on the bridge, cycling on the footpath and dodging people taking selfies.
The waves crashing on the rocks below covered me with a thin mist of sea water. The smell of the ocean filled my nose. I was full of the sea.