Kazungula Bridge

Kazungula Bridge is a road and rail bridge under construction over the Zambezi river between the countries of Zambia and Botswana at Kazungula.

Kazungula Bridge
Coordinates17°47′28″S 25°15′43″E
CarriesRoad, rail
CrossesZambezi
LocaleKazungula, Zambia, Botswana
Characteristics
Total length923 m (3,028 ft)
Width18.5 m (61 ft)
Longest span129 m (423 ft)
No. of spans4
Piers in water4
No. of lanes2
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks1
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
History
OpeningDecember, 2020
Location

In August 2007 the governments of Zambia and Botswana announced a deal to construct a bridge to replace the existing ferry.[1]

The bridge under construction, March 2019

Construction of the US$259.3 million project, which includes international border facilities in Zambia and Botswana officially began on 12 October 2014 and was due to be completed by 2020.[2] Opening has been delayed due to transportation issues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

Construction is being financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the African Development Bank.[4] The 923-metre-long (3,028 ft) by 18.5-metre-wide (61 ft) bridge will have a longest span of 129 metres (423 ft) and link the town of Kazungula in Zambia with Botswana and is curved to avoid the nearby borders of Zimbabwe and Namibia.[5][6] The bridge will feature a single-line railway track between two traffic lanes and pavements for pedestrians.[7]

Upon its completion, the bridge will be connected to the Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone Railway.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. "Zambia, Botswana reach Kazungula bridge deal". Palapye.com News Blog. AFP. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. "Kazungula Bridge to be completed". ZNBC. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  3. "Unexplained delays in the multi-billion rand Kazungula Bridge". News 24. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  4. "Kazungula Bridge project in Southern Africa to be commissioned soon". Construction Review. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  5. "2. Project description and Justification", Zambia Botswana Kazungula Bridge Project ESIA Summary July 2011 (PDF), African Development Bank Group, July 2011, p. 2, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2015, retrieved 30 January 2018, The proposed bridge has been designed as an extra-dosed road-rail bridge configuration with middle deck sections of 129m, and 4 piers in the river, with a total length of 923m. It will follow a curved alignment layout to avoid the border area in the Zambezi waters between Botswana and Zimbabwe, where the exact border positions have not been ratified.
  6. Ganetsang, Godfrey (4 September 2014). "Daewoo E&C wins $161m tender for Kazungula Bridge". Sunday Standard. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  7. Mwale, Chimwemwe (6 September 2007). "Trade boom lies in wait for Kazungula Bridge". Zambia Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  8. Reuters (September 9, 2018). "Botswana says China agreed to extend loan and cancel debt". The bulk of the loan is expected to fund the Mosetse-Kazungula railway line project, which will link the central part of Botswana to the tourism hub in the northwest. The railway line will also promote regional trade as it will connect Botswana to Zambia via the Kazungula Bridge, currently under construction.
  9. Zambia, Botswana to construct railway across Zambezi
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