Construction of an 11.6-kilometre expressway linking the new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera District to the existing road network is progressing, the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) has announced.

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In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, the RTDA explained that the road is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen transport infrastructure and improve connectivity to the new airport.

The expressway connects the airport area to Karumuna, from the Kanzenze water plant in Bugesera.

"Once completed, this strategic road is expected to improve mobility, enhance connectivity, facilitate safer and smoother transportation for passengers travelling to and from the new Kigali International Airport, as well as residents and businesses in the surrounding areas,” RTDA’s statement read.

The airport, located about 40 kilometres from Kigali, is expected to begin operations in 2028, following a change to the earlier completion schedule of 2026.

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The facility is being developed at an estimated cost of $2 billion. Its 130,000-square-metre main terminal is designed to accommodate eight million passengers annually, with capacity expected to rise to more than 14 million in the following decades.

The airport will also have a dedicated cargo terminal capable of handling up to 150,000 tonnes of cargo annually.