Sinamalé Bridge

The Sinamalé Bridge links the islands of Malé, Hulhulé and Hulhumalé (through Hulhulé') in the Maldives.[1] The 1.39 km long bridge has two car lanes and separate lanes for motorcycles, and pedestrians,[2] and opened on 30 August 2018. It was originally called the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge due to funding received from the Chinese government.[3][4] It is the first inter-island bridge in the Maldives.[5]

Sinamalé Bridge China-Maldives Friendship Bridge
An aerial view of the bridge
Coordinates	4°10′24″N 73°31′28″E
Carries	Motor vehicles
Crosses	Malé, Hulhulé
Locale	Maldives
Official name	Sinamalé Bridge
Maintained by	China Harbour Engineering
Characteristics
Design	Curve bridge
Total length	1.39 km
Width	20.3 m
History
Constructed by	China Harbour Engineering
Construction end	30 August 2018
Opened	7 September 2018
Inaugurated	30 August 2018
Location

The idea of a bridge between the two islands of Malé and Hulhulé was first raised in 2007[6] and was widely discussed in 2008 following the pledge on constructing a bridge by the then president Maumoon during his presidential campaign.[7][8][9] Mohamed Nasheed, another presidential candidate, and the opposition criticized the idea at first, but later presented a counter pledge to link Malé, Hulhulé Island, Hulhumalé, Villingili, and Gulhifalhu via a bridge.[7]

Nasheed won the following election, and on 20 December 2011, his cabinet decided to proceed with the construction of the bridge between Malé and Hulhule under the Malé decongestion plans "to provide affordable housing for the people, and resolve other social issues", according to an announcement made on a government website.[10] However, the project stalled when Nasheed resigned. It was restarted by president Abdulla Yameen in 2014[11][12] and was officially inaugurated in 2018.[13]

It is estimated the bridge would cost US$210 million, of which US$126 million will be paid by the Chinese government as a grant in aid.[14] China Harbour Engineering (CHEC) is the main contractor and had been praised for the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge in Malaysia.[15]