Infrastructure

Maputo Bay bridge project faces delays

17 Dec, 2017

Final cost of bridge expected to increase as project misses December deadline.

The completion of the major suspension bridge across Maputo Bay faces delays of several months and could lead to additional costs, announced the Empresa de Desenvolvimento de Maputo Sul (EDMS), a government body tasked with developing key infrastructure projects centred around the capital.The Maputo-Catembe bridge, which will become the largest suspension bridge in Africa, is being constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). It was due to open in December 2017 but now looks as though it will not be completed until well into 2018, according to EDMS. It could aslo lead to the CRBC revising the $785 million cost of the project.

The four-lane bridge, which is 680m long and stands 60m above sea level, will link Maputo's port facilities on the northern side of the bay with Catembe on the southern side.

The structure is expected to cut about four hours off the driving time between Maputo and the South African border, and is part of a cross-border project to develop the area shared by South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland.