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

  • Major Russian bridge projects underway
    December 13, 2017
    A series of major bridge projects are underway in Russia, in the Krasnodar Region, Novosibirsk and the Surgut District. A new bridge being built in the Krasnodar Region is expected to be open to vehicle traffic at the end of 2018. Work on the bridge supports is being completed at present and work on the deck is now underway. The bridge will also carry rail traffic from the end of 2019. Meanwhile in Novosibirsk, construction is commencing on a new bridge spanning the Ob River. This will be the fourth bridge
    Read More
  • New Zealand's bridges survive earthquake
    February 7, 2012
    How is it that New Zealand's recent large and destructive earthquake did so little damage to the bridges in the quake zone? Mary Searle investigates. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit the Canterbury region in New Zealand at 4.35am on Saturday, 4 September was similar in size to the quake that shook Haiti in January. However, the damage in Canterbury was minimal in comparison. A key contributor to this was New Zealand's preparedness for such an event. Positioned on a major fault line, New Zealand has ear
    Read More
  • New funding for 44 infrastructure projects
    December 26, 2024
    New funding awards escalate the launch of 44 major infrastructure projects.
    Read More
  • Qatar to spend up to $100 billion on road and rail networks before FIFA World Cup
    February 29, 2012
    According to Business Monitor International (BMI), Qatar is expected to spend US$80-100 billion over the next five years to prepare and deliver the infrastructure required to support the huge influx of visitors forecast to attend the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
    Read More

Highlighted Content