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

  • Massive German road investment required
    March 5, 2025
    German is requiring a massive investment in road development.
    Read More
  • Italy’s horrific bridge collapse is a sign of a wider problem
    January 7, 2019
    The shocking collapse of a major highway bridge in the Italian city of Genoa has highlighted a major problem with regard to poor infrastructure condition in the country. Causing multiple fatalities, the cable-stayed Morandi Bridge suffered a spectacular failure of a central support. Homes have had to be evacuated and it seems likely that the bridge, opened in 1967, will now have to be demolished. However, warnings had been given. The unusual bridge design, with its thin deck and reinforced concrete stays
    Read More
  • New bridge connection from Nigeria to Cameroon
    August 18, 2015
    A new bridge is being built linking Cameroon and Nigeria and spanning the Cross River where it forms the border between the two countries.
    Read More
  • Nigeria key connection from Lagos to Ibadan
    November 28, 2016
    Work on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, the A5 route connecting Lagos with Ibadan, is close to completion. Lagos and Ibadan are two of the largest cities in Nigeria and as the distance between the two is comparatively short at 128km, the highway carries heavy traffic. The tender process for the project was won by Julius Berger Nigeria in 2013, with the work being handled in two sections from Lagos to the Sagamu Interchange and from the Sagamu Interchange to Ibadan. Work on the project was halted temporar
    Read More

Highlighted Content