The Tanzanian government is planning to build a 50km bridge – the longest in Africa – between Dar es Salaam and the island of Zanzibar, Construct Africa reports.

Geofrey Kasekenya, the deputy transport minister, said talks were under way with China Overseas Engineering Group (COEG), a subsidiary of China Railway Group, to construct the bridge.

He said: “We have met with the prospective investors of COEG, and they have shown interest in building the bridge.” He added that talks about the project began in March and were at an advanced stage.

The government has estimated the bridge would cost $2.7bn to construct, and it intends to procure the work through a public-private partnership, with some funding to come from the African Development Bank.

If it goes ahead, the bridge would improve trade, tourism and investment opportunities in Zanzibar and the mainland.