Nigeria’s new Niger River crossing construction underway

Preparation work for the access roads to Nigeria’s new Niger River crossing has now commenced. Construction of the bridge itself looks likely to commence in 2015 and this long delayed project has been the subject of much scrutiny and comment within Nigeria. Contractor Julius Berger has the concession for the US$700 million bridge, which will carry both road and rail links. The site of the new bridge is close to the commercial city of Onitsha, which is a major transport hub for Nigeria. High volumes of throu
August 14, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Preparation work for the access roads to Nigeria’s new Niger River crossing has now commenced. Construction of the bridge itself looks likely to commence in 2015 and this long delayed project has been the subject of much scrutiny and comment within Nigeria. Contractor 7740 Julius Berger has the concession for the US$700 million bridge, which will carry both road and rail links. The site of the new bridge is close to the commercial city of Onitsha, which is a major transport hub for Nigeria. High volumes of through traffic pass through the area between east and west and also from the north to the south of the country. The new bridge is needed as the existing structure is ageing and there are questions over its long term structural integrity, while it will be unable to cope with anticipated traffic volumes. The old bridge has a somewhat chequered history, having been opened in the mid-1960s, blown up shortly after during the Nigerian/Biafran civil War and then repaired after the cease of hostilities.
Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Building Egypt's world class Desert Highway
    April 13, 2012
    A huge highway upgrade project will transform the Cairo-Alexandria road link into a world-class connection as Mike Woof reports. The work to upgrade the Desert Highway connecting Egypt's sprawling capital Cairo with its major port Alexandria, is one of the country's largest infrastructure projects for many years. This 220km highway link is being widened and improved to cope with the hugely increased traffic volumes resulting partly from Egypt's fast growing vehicle population. The Egyptian economy is strong
    Read More
  • Towers of power: California’s Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement
    May 8, 2019
    Challenging ground conditions meant a design rethink - and some engineering firsts - for California’s Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project* The Port of Long Beach on Terminal Island south of Los Angeles is the second-busiest container port in the US. It handles around 15% of all imported goods, much of it with Asia. As the Port of Long Beach was growing in importance over the past half century, the 51-year-old Gerald Desmond Bridge has faithfully been delivering thousands of daily commuters to wo
    Read More
  • Building Egypt's world class Desert Highway
    February 9, 2012
    A huge highway upgrade project will transform the Cairo-Alexandria road link into a world-class connection as Mike Woof reports
    Read More
  • Project building new Biobio bridge in Chile on track
    August 28, 2014
    Construction work on the fourth bridge spanning Chile’s Biobio Bridge is proceeding on schedule. The project site is located in Chile’s Gran Concepcion area. Construction could commence in 2016, with completion expected in 2018. Environmental studies have yet to be completed however. The work will be carried out as part of a concession package and the bridge is expected to cost some US$214 million to construct, carrying two lanes for vehicle traffic as well as claiming pedestrian and cycling connectivity. T
    Read More

Highlighted Content