The longest bridges in Africa have improved transportation and logistics in the continent, serving as a medium for moving thousands of people and tonnes of goods.
Apart from connecting major cities, these bridges are also remarkably unique as they beautifully show off the expertise of the constructing companies.
These are the longest bridges in Africa:
- 6TH OCTOBER BRIDGE, EGYPT- 20.5KM
- THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE, NIGERIA- 10.5KM
- SUEZ CANAL BRIDGE, EGYPT- 3.9KM
- ISLAND BRIDGE, MOZAMBIQUE- 3.8KM
- DONA ANA BRIDGE, MOZAMBIQUE- 3.67KM
- ARMANDO EMILIO GUEBUZA BRIDGE, MOZAMBIQUE- 2.37KM
- QASR AL – NIL BRIDGE, EGYPT- 1.9KN
- WOURI BRIDGE, CAMEROUN- 1.8KM
- MKAPA BRIDGE, TANZANIA- 0.97KM
- KATIMA MULILO BRIDGE, NAMIBIA- 0.9KM.
It measures 970 metres in length and was opened in 2003.
10. KATIMA MULILO BRIDGE, NAMIBIA- 0.9KM
In tenth place, the Katima Mulilo Bridge measures 900 metres and has 19 spans. The bridge is relatively young compared to others on this list. It was opened for transportation across the Zambezi River in Zambia on May 14, 2004.
It was built across the Zambezi River and is also known as Bridge 508 in the Namibian Bridge register.
The Katima Mulilo Bridge carries the TransCaprivi Highway over the Zambezi River between Katima Mulilo, Namibia and Sesheke, Zambia.
The bridge was officially opened by the President of Namibia, Dr Sam Nujoma, and the President of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, on May 13 2004, in Katima Mulilo.
9. MKAPA BRIDGE, TANZANIA- 0.97KM
The bridge is named after Benjamin Mkapa, the third president of Tanzania. Mkapa Bridge is the longest Bridge in Tanzania across the Rufiji River. The bridge was financed through a US$30 million loan from the Kuwait Fund, OPEC and the Government of Saudi Arabia.
At its inauguration in 2003, it was among the longest road bridges in east and southern Africa. The bridge’s construction has helped immensely in connecting the southern regions to other important areas of the country.
8. WOURI BRIDGE, CAMEROUN- 1.8KM
The French built it during the colonial period in the 1950s. During the French war, this 1.8-kilometre-long bridge was raised to create a link between Douala and the port of Bonaberi, Cameroon.
Covering the waters of the Wouri River, it joins Douala to the port of Bonaberi and carries the road and rail traffic to the West of Cameroun. It measures 1.8 kilometres in length. Despite recent restoration works, the bridge has become obsolete, causing traffic problems.
7. QASR AL–NIL BRIDGE, EGYPT- 1.9KM
It was initially called Khedive Ismail Bridge and was designed by Ralph Anthony Freeman. It crosses the River Nile and is located in Egypt.
This bridge was built across the longest river on earth. The 1.9-kilometre-long Bridge connects the centre of Cairo to the Zamalek district and Gezira Island, Egypt. It was inaugurated on June 6, 1933.
It connects Tahrir Square in Cairo to the southern end of Gezira Island. At the bridge’s east and west approaches are four famous giant bronze lion statues; late 19th-century works by Henri Alfred Jacquemart, French sculptor and animalier.
The bridge is popular for strolling in the evenings. With views of the river, as well as landmark buildings, hotels, and other structures on the island, the bridge is popular as a location for young Egyptian friends and couples to have an inexpensive outdoor date.
6. ARMANDO EMILIO GUEBUZA BRIDGE, MOZAMBIQUE- 2.37KM
Right in Mozambique again is the Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge. It crosses the Zambezi River and connects the provinces of Sofala and Zambezia.
It was named after Armando Guebuza, president from 2005 to 2015.
It was inaugurated on August 1, 2009, and measures 2.37 kilometres in length and 16 metres in width.
READ ALSO: Check out the 6 Longest Bridges in Nigeria
5. DONA ANA BRIDGE, MOZAMBIQUE- 3.67KM
It was initially constructed as a railway bridge to link Malawi and the Moatize Coalfields to the port of Beira.
It links the two halves of the country, connecting the towns of Mutarara and Vila de Sena. It was completed in 1934 and measures 3.67 kilometres in length.
The bridge is an alternative route in the Zambezi. Initially, there were two options at Cala and Tete, but they were unreliable at all times. The Dona Ana Bridge is also the longest bridge that crosses the Zambezi.
It was rendered unusable in the 1980s, during the Mozambican Civil War. USAID assisted with the repairs, converting it into a single-lane bridge for vehicle traffic.
4. ISLAND BRIDGE, MOZAMBIQUE- 3.9KM
Mozambique Island Bridge is a historically significant concrete bridge linking the Mozambican mainland and “Ilha de Moçambique” (Mozambique Island). It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
The bridge is 3,800 metres (12,500 ft) over the Indian Ocean.
It connects the Island of Mozambique, the former capital of colonial Portuguese East Africa, to the mainland over the Indian ocean.
3. SUEZ CANAL BRIDGE, EGYPT- 3.9KM
The Suez Canal Bridge, also known as the Egyptian–Japanese Friendship Bridge or Al Salam Peace Bridge, is a road bridge crossing the Suez Canal at El-Qantara. The bridge links the continents of Africa and Asia.
It is 3.9 kilometres long and links the continents of Africa and Eurasia. The bridge has contributed to the development of the regions around the Suez Canal.
The construction of the bridge was in conjunction with other projects, including the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, the Suez Canal overhead power line crossing, and the El Ferdan Railway Bridge.
2. THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE, NIGERIA- 10.5KM
Until 1996 when the 6th October bridge was inaugurated, the Third Mainland Bridge was the longest in Africa.
Now sitting in second place, it is located in Lagos, Nigeria and travels from the mainland to Lagos Island.
It was constructed by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and was inaugurated by President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in 1990. It is also known as the Ibrahim Babangida bridge. It measures 10.5 kilometres in length.
1. 6TH OCTOBER BRIDGE, EGYPT- 20.5KM
With a length of 20.5 kilometres, this bridge is, without competition, the longest Bridge in Africa. It is located in Central Cairo, Egypt, along the River Nile.
The bridge even almost doubles the length of the former record holder, the Third Mainland Bridge (10.5KM).
The origin of the name comes from the start date of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Construction for the Bridge was a national infrastructure project that began in 1969.
Due to the complexity of the bridge, its construction took nearly 30 years. It was finally inaugurated in 1966. The bridge is the spinal cord of Cairo city since about 500,000 residents use it daily.
REFERENCE:
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“Top 10 Longest Bridges in Africa (UPDATED)” – propertypro.ng, April 13, 2020
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“The Longest Bridges in Africa” – worldatlas.com, Victor Rotich, June 1, 2017
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