Africa’s longest suspension bridge that is under construction in Mozambique will be inaugurated in 25th June, a public body spearheading the project Empresa de Desenvolvimento de Maputo Sul has announced.
The Maputo-Catembe bridge is being constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) at a cost of over US$700. The bridge has been under construction since 2012.
It was Financed through a loan from Export-Import Bank (ExIm) of China. Completion of the project was initially set for 2017, but postponed due to delay in arrival of construction material.
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The 3km bridge aims to link the capital Maputo with the small and picturesque town of Catembe on the southern edge of Maputo Bay. The bridge will cut the journey times by eliminating the need to drive around the bay or use some of the ageing ferry services.
The Maputo-Catembe is part of a larger project that includes a set of access roads on both banks and other roads, including one leading to Ponta do Ouro, a beach area near the border with the province of Natal, in South Africa, which is over 170 kilometres long.
Apart from being Africa’s longest suspension bridge, the Maputo-Catembe will also be among the 60 largest suspended bridge spans in the world.