Have you ever felt curious enough to know the longest bridges in Africa? A lot of significant progress has been made to build bridges to ease transportation across the continent. This article will reveal:
- Top 10 longest bridges in Africa
- Longest pedestrian bridge in Africa
Top 10 longest bridges in Africa
Here are the top 10 longest bridges in Africa in reverse chronological order:
10. Katima Mulilo Bridge
Katima Mulilo Bridge stands across the Zambezi River. The bridge is a boundary between Katima Mulilo, Namibia and Sesheke, Zambia. It opened on May 13, 2004. Katima Mulilo bridge is 900 meters long, so it is tenth on the list.
9. Mkapa Bridge
Mkapa Bridge was named after the third Tanzania president, Benjamin Mpaka. However, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) gave financial assistance to build the bridge, inaugurated in 2003. Mkapa Bridge is 970 meters long.
8. Wouri River Bridge
Wouri River Bridge was built across the Wouri river in Cameroon. The French constructed the bridge during the colonial period in the 1950s. Wouri River Bridge connects to Douala, which links to the port of Bonaberi. It is 1.8 km long.
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7. Qasr Al-Nil Bridge
Formerly known as the Khedive Ismail Bridge, the Qasr Al-Nil bridge is located in Egypt. It is 1.9 km long and built over the Nile River. Construction began on February 4 1931. The bridge was officially opened on June 6 1933.
6. Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge
Also located in Mozambique, Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge was named after former president Armando Eguebuza. The bridge crosses the River Zambezi and connects the provinces of Sofala and Zambezia. Additionally, the construction of the bridge started in December 2005. It was finished in August 2009. Armando Emilio Guebuza bridge is 2.37 km long, making it the sixth-longest bridge in Africa.
5. Dona Ana Bridge
Still, in Mozambique, Dona Ana Bridge is a rail bridge built across the lower river Zambezi. The bridge is 3.7 km long and links Vila de Sena and Mutarara towns. It was constructed in 1934.
4. Mozambique Island Bridge
This is a 3.8 km bridge located on the Island of Mozambique. The bridge crosses over the Indian Oceans and connects the island to the mainland. Mozambique Island Bridge was constructed in 1969. However, in July 2004, rehabilitation began with a $9-million budget. A lighting system was installed on the bridge in 2013.
3. Suez Canal Bridge
The Suez Canal bridge is a road bridge that crosses the Suez Canal at El-Qantara in Egypt. “El-Qantara” means “the bridge” in Egyptian Arabic. The bridge was built by the Japanese after then-President Hosni Mubarak visited Japan in 1995. Little wonder it also has the name Egyptian-Japanese Friendship Bridge. Suez Canal bridge officially opened on October 9, 2001. Furthermore, the bridge is 3.9 km long, making it the third-largest bridge in Africa.
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2. Third Mainland Bridge
The Third Mainland bridge is located in Lagos, Nigeria. It was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996, when the 6th October Bridge officially opened. The Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges that connect Lagos Island to the Mainland. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. Midway through the bridge also leads to Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. Built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, President Shehu Shagari commissioned the bridge in 1980. President Ibrahim Babangida completed it in 1990.
However, people began to complain of cracks on the bridge. This was due to heavy vehicular movements. So, on July 6 2020, the government announced that it would be closed down for six months, beginning from July 24, 2020, to January 24, 2021. This was to allow repairs to replace bearings and worn-out joints.
The Third Mainland bridge measures about 11.8km, making it the second-longest bridge in Africa.
1. 6th October Bridge
The 6th October bridge is located in Cairo, Egypt. It is 20.5km long, making it the longest bridge in Africa. Construction of the bridge began in 1969 and almost took 30 years to complete. It officially opened in 1997. The bridge crosses twice from the west bank of the Nile, through Gezira Island in the east and then to Cairo International Airport. In April 2021, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi gave orders to expand and upgrade the bridge and the roads underneath.
Longest pedestrian bridge in Africa
Africa is not known for building grand pedestrian bridges like Europe and America. Somehow, pedestrian bridges in Africa haven’t drawn as much attention as the regular bridges. However, a couple of places stand out on the dark continent.
Panseke flyover
Panseke flyover bridge is allegedly the longest bridge in Africa. However, the claim has not been verified yet. Panseke bridge is located at Panseke Adigbe Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria. They also call it “bridge of confusion” or “octopus bridge” due to its many twists and turns. Witnesses say it is very easy to get lost on the bridge. Some even joked that only those in full control of their destiny could pass through this bridge.
The Ogun State Government under the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun constructed the Panseke flyover in 2020.
University of Jos pedestrian bridge
The University of Jos completed a 344 meters pedestrian bridge linking the Students’ Village Hostel with Naraguta Campus in August 2015. The bridge stands across River Dilimi. A student had died three years earlier, prompting the school management to build the bridge to avoid future occurrences. According to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Hayward Babale Mafuyai, the government did not finance the project. Instead, the students’ yearly development levy paid for it.
They say that the University of Jos pedestrian bridge is the longest in West Africa, which is why it drew our attention.
Conclusion
Egypt, Nigeria, Mozambique and Tanzania are homes to the longest bridges in Africa. The longest pedestrian bridge in Africa is located at Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. While the report has not been confirmed, it has not been disputed yet. But one thing we know is that these bridges brought infrastructural development to the continent.
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