During Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony in Kinshasa, President Félix Tshisekedi laid the foundation stone for the future Étienne Tshisekedi boulevard, marking the official start of the 12-month construction cycle. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka and Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba attended the event alongside the president. The flagship infrastructure will deliver an 8-lane, 2,020-metre main carriageway—four lanes in each direction—supplemented by a 750-metre, dual-lane slip road. The scope also covers extensive drainage networks, multiple bridges and culverts, and full LED street lighting.

China Railway 20th Bureau Group embarks on first public works contract in DRC

Execution of the project has been awarded to China Railway 20th Bureau Group (CR20), a Chinese construction giant with deep expertise in large-scale infrastructure. Zhang Guoxu, General Manager of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Angola International Company, confirmed this marks CR20’s inaugural public-sector contract in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He pledged the company’s full commitment to meeting both the technical specifications and the tight 12-month timeline, while ensuring rigorous quality control and minimal environmental disruption. Governor Daniel Bumba echoed the urgency, stressing strict adherence to contractual deadlines and technical standards so the new artery can swiftly alleviate gridlock in its catchment area.

Before the symbolic groundbreaking, President Tshisekedi reviewed detailed project renderings, technical blueprints, and key structural plans. The boulevard is designed to expand Kinshasa’s road capacity and streamline traffic flows along one of the capital’s most congested corridors. Once completed, the Étienne Tshisekedi corridor will integrate seamlessly with existing routes, helping redistribute heavy traffic currently overwhelming parallel roads. Success hinges on flawless execution, on-time delivery, and effective integration into the broader urban transport network.