Preliminary works on the Prince House-Masaka road expansion project have reached 100% completion, with construction activities progressing as the project moves towards the main construction phase.
Nearly a month after the government officially launched the project on August 30, 2026, work is progressing steadily, particularly along sections where the road will be expanded.
Although the official launch took place in August, preliminary works began nine months earlier. The project is being implemented by Chinese company Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Company.
Among the completed works is the expansion of sections of the existing road to create temporary routes for motorists while construction of the elevated section proceeds. Vehicles are expected to begin using the newly expanded sections in the coming days, allowing construction to start on parts of the existing road currently used by traffic.
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Road Sections Prepared for Construction
At Prince House, where the expansion begins, the section around the intersection leading towards the lower part of Remera Bus Terminal has been widened. Additional sections have been constructed on both sides of the existing paved road, compacted and prepared for temporary use by vehicles.
However, drainage works are still underway on the upper section despite the completion of compaction.
Further along the road, slightly below Zigama CSS, the stone retaining wall above the road has been completed, while the section beneath it has also been compacted.
Another prepared section runs from SABANS Pharmacy past Hilltop Hotel towards the intersection connecting the roads leading to Kanombe and 15. The road has been widened, with the areas above and below the existing carriageway compacted while the paved section in the middle remains open to traffic.
This section has recorded some of the most visible progress. From the intersection towards 15, trees along the upper side of the road have been cleared, although grading and earthworks have yet to begin.
Meanwhile, another section passing Hilltop Hotel towards the Kanombe intersection is undergoing compaction using construction machinery.
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Businesses Anticipate Opportunities from Road Expansion
Residents and business owners operating near the construction site have expressed optimism that the project will create economic opportunities beyond improving transportation and mobility.
Ngabo Désiré, who runs Come Again bar along the road, said the project is expected to attract more people to the area, prompting plans to expand his services.
he said: “As you can see, this place is close to the airport, so the project will increase the number of people coming here. To make the most of this opportunity, we plan to expand the services we provide, construct a multi-storey building and include accommodation facilities. We will also be closer to the road than we were before, and that is an opportunity for us.”
Iragena Rebecca, who manages a restaurant near SABANS Pharmacy, said the business had already recorded a 10% increase in customers, partly attributed to workers involved in the construction project.
She explained that the increase had created an opportunity for the restaurant, which previously prepared food and waited for customers but now sells its prepared meals and sometimes has to cook additional food.
According to Iragena, the trend has been noticeable since August, and the business expects customer numbers to continue rising. They plan to expand their operations to take advantage of the opportunities expected once the road is completed.
Ndikumana Zachée, manager of Epimac Resto & Coffee Shop near the road, said traffic had declined in some areas because certain activities and structures were removed to make way for construction. However, he remains optimistic about the project’s completion.
he said: “We believe that having an elevated section on this road is a positive development that will increase traffic and movement. We also have enough space to expand our business once the number of customers increases.”
Employees at The Planet Salon also said customer traffic had declined recently, but they planned to expand their services once the road was completed. They noted that congestion had previously discouraged some people from visiting the salon.
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Road Project Creates Employment Opportunities
The Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) indicates that 132 people have so far been employed on the project, working daily on construction activities. The workforce is expected to grow as work expands.
Meanwhile, activities involving the relocation of people and other developments within the road expansion area are more than 95% complete.
Workers involved in the project said the employment opportunities had helped them avoid unemployment, adding that more jobs are expected as construction activities increase.
One worker said he had earned Rwf130,000 per month during the nine months he had worked on the project, enabling him to pay his child’s school fees and meet other household needs.
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Prince House-Masaka Road to Include 1.3 Kilometers Elevated Section
The Prince House-Masaka road is 10.3 kilometres long. Upon completion, it will be expanded from two lanes to four lanes and will include a 1.3-kilometre elevated section.
The project is expected to take 30 months to complete through cooperation between Rwanda and China. It will cost more than Rwf130 billion, with China contributing Rwf95 billion and Rwanda providing Rwf35 billion.
