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

  • Key highway sections to be completed in Serbia in 2017
    January 16, 2017
    A series of major highway sections in Serbia should be completed during 2017, including work to two stretches of the key Corridor 10 project. In all, some 122km of highways are expected to be opened to traffic in Serbia during 2017. Greek contractor Actor is building an 18km stretch of Corridor 10 that runs from Surcin to Obrenovac part. This firm is also building a 19.5km section of Corridor 10 from the Ostruznica Bridge that spans the Sava River to Bubanj Potok, and a further 10km section leading to Buban
    Read More
  • Chilean bridge project
    September 21, 2021
    An important Chilean bridge project has faced delays.
    Read More
  • Mozambique: Maputo cancels Britalar’s Julius Nyerere Avenue deal
    January 14, 2015
    A consortium led by Portuguese contractor Britalar has been sacked from a controversial contract to rehabilitate a prestigious thoroughfare in the Mozambique capital Maputo. The council is seeking repayment of US$1 million from the consortium that includes two other Portuguese companies, Construção Europa Ar-Lindo and Aurélio Martins Sobreiro e Filhos. Media reports also say a Chinese firm has been handed the contract to finish the work that was started in February 2013 under a deal worth $12.5 millio
    Read More
  • Road rebuilding and rehabilitiation revitalising Rwanda
    October 4, 2013
    In Rwanda a road rehabilitation project will see the rebuilding of the route connecting Huye and Kitabi. The work on the 53km road will be supervised by Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure and is due for completion by 2017. A loan worth SU$10 million from the Arab Bank for Economic Development (Badea) will help to finance the work on the road, which lies in Rwanda’s Southern Province. Badea is a financial institution owned by 18 Arab countries members of the League of Arab States (LAS). In all, the project
    Read More

Highlighted Content