Mozambique bridge due to open

Mozambique’s Maputo-Catembe Bridge is due to open shortly and will become Africa’s longest suspension bridge. The 3km bridge will form part of the road connection between Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, and Catembe. The bridge is costing over US$700 million, with much of the necessary funding being provided by the Export Import Bank of China. The new bridge will improve transport and reduce journey times for drivers, who currently have to rely on ferries travelling between Maputo and Catembe.
May 11, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Mozambique’s Maputo-Catembe Bridge is due to open shortly and will become Africa’s longest suspension bridge. The 3km bridge will form part of the road connection between Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, and Catembe. The bridge is costing over US$700 million, with much of the necessary funding being provided by the Export Import Bank of China. The new bridge will improve transport and reduce journey times for drivers, who currently have to rely on ferries travelling between Maputo and Catembe.


Construction work commenced in 2014 and was originally expected to be complete by 2017 but the project was delayed due to hold ups with supplies of necessary materials. The construction work is being carried out by the Chinese contractor, 3366 China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

The bridge project forms part of a larger package of works for new road connections, including a 120km link from Catembe to Ponto do Ouro, on the border with neighbouring South Africa’s Natal Province. Another 65km road meanwhile will connect Vela Vista with Boane. In all the road projects include upgrades to five bridges spanning the Tember River, Changane River, Mahube River, Boane River and Umbeluzi River.

The bridge and road projects are of major economic importance for Mozambique as the work will improve tourism, trade and transport with its neighbours, South Africa and Swaziland.

Finance & Funding

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Chile’s Chacao Bridge under construction
    March 6, 2018
    Construction work on Chile’s Chacao Bridge project is now underway. The 2.75km suspension bridge will connect the Chilean mainland with Chiloe Island. The bridge structure has been designed to flex so that It can cope with severe earthquakes, which present a risk in the area. The project is costing US$700 million to carry out with South Korean company Hyundai heading the construction. Building the link should take around five years with its completion set for 2023, although the work could be finished earlie
    Read More
  • Chile’s Chacao Bridge project - futuresecured
    July 19, 2018
    Chile’s landmark Chacao Bridge project now looks to be back on a sound footing, with completion expected in late 2022 or early 2023. This projects for the 2.6km-long bridge was to have been built jointly by Brazilian firm OAS and South Korean company Hyundai. However OAS hit financial difficulties and had to withdraw from the project. As a result, Hyundai will now buy the 49% stake OAS had in the project. As Hyundai already has a 51% stake in the bridge project, this will give the firm total ownership ove
    Read More
  • Nigeria’s new US$2 billion coastal highway
    April 25, 2024
    Nigeria is planning a US$2 billion coastal highway.
    Read More
  • New cross border connection between Serbia and Macedonia
    August 19, 2014
    Plans are in hand in Macedonia for the new highway that will run from Bar to the Serbian border. The Macedonian Government recently held talks with Chinese construction company CRBC with regard to the project. The Chinese contractor is commencing construction once a loan from China’s Exim bank is fully secured. Meanwhile over the border in Serbia, the Ministry of Transport has said that 2014 will see some 60km of new major roads opening to traffic. In 2015 work on another 210km of roads will commence in the
    Read More

Highlighted Content