President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo personally laid the foundation stone for the forthcoming Étienne Tshisekedi Boulevard in Kinshasa on Tuesday, marking the official commencement of this crucial development. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka and the capital’s Governor, Daniel Bumba, were among the dignitaries attending the ceremony. The blueprint for this project outlines a primary axis stretching 2,020 meters, configured with eight traffic lanes—four in each direction. A complementary 750-meter ramp, featuring two lanes, will further augment the infrastructure. Additionally, the initiative includes the implementation of robust drainage systems, new bridges, culverts, and state-of-the-art lighting equipment. The project is contractually slated for completion within twelve months.

CR20 undertakes its inaugural public works project in RDC

The responsibility for these substantial works has been assigned to China Railway 20th Bureau Group (CR20), a renowned Chinese enterprise specializing in infrastructure development. Zhang Guoxu, the General Manager of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Angola International Company, confirmed that this marks CR20’s very first public works contract executed within the Democratic Republic of Congo. He affirmed the company’s commitment to deploying all necessary resources to adhere to the project’s stringent timeline and technical specifications. Mr. Guoxu also highlighted the paramount importance of construction quality and effective management of the project’s environmental footprint. For his part, Governor Daniel Bumba underscored the imperative of strictly observing technical guidelines and contractual deadlines. The Governor expressed his anticipation that this new infrastructure would swiftly contribute to alleviating traffic conditions in the affected urban area.

Prior to the foundation stone ceremony, President Félix Tshisekedi was given a detailed presentation outlining the proposed route, the intended layout, and the primary structures slated for construction. Visual renderings of the future boulevard were also showcased. The explicit goal is to significantly enhance road capacity along this critical axis and improve the fluidity of movement within a capital city often grappling with intense traffic congestion. The Étienne Tshisekedi Boulevard is designed to complement the existing network, providing a wider and more effectively equipped infrastructure. Its ultimate success, however, will depend on the high quality of its execution, strict adherence to the announced twelve-month timeline, and its smooth integration with Kinshasa’s other crucial traffic arteries. Once the works are completed, this new artery is expected to become an integral part of the capital’s road system, aiming to substantially reduce the strain on several routes currently experiencing saturation.