Africa's longest bridge that will cost £495m and stretch nearly a mile replacing a ferry

Africa's longest bridge will cost £495m and stretch nearly a mile replacing a ferry. (Image: JICA Kenya)

The Mombasa Gateway Bridge is set to become Africa's longest bridge and cost an estimated £495 million.

The bridge will stretch for nearly a mile and replace the Likoni ferry.

This transport source currently links Mombasa Island to the South Coast but is set to be replaced by the bridge when it’s completed.

The bridge will feature four lanes and a clearance of 69 metres, allowing ships to pass beneath it.

This will help with maintaining the heavy port traffic that Mombasa handles as Kenya’s primary port. 

The bridge will feature four lanes and a clearance of 69 metres. (Image: JICA Kenya)

The bridge is also expected to ease congestion at the Likoni crossing, which currently experiences long delays for both vehicles and pedestrians.

The funding for the project is primarily sourced from a loan extended by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). 

The development is part of broader efforts to improve infrastructure in Kenya, especially in the coastal region, which is important for the country’s trade and tourism industries.

Construction of the bridge was initially set to begin in 2021, but faced delays due to the need to compensate over 1,700 families displaced by the bridge construction.

The bridge is expected to ease congestion at the Likoni crossing. (Image: JICA Kenya)

The work is now underway and expected to take around three years, meaning the bridge should be completed by 2027.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to improve the connection between Mombasa and the surrounding regions.

It is also hoped the bridge will promote economic growth and reduce transport costs. 

On top of that, the construction of the bridge could boost tourism, with the scenic views over the Indian Ocean making it an attraction in itself.