Saturday 23rd October, the contractors CSE and Politechnica have launched the final set of 75 meters steel beams on the Mabang Bridge, across the Ribbi River. This completes the total 231 meter span of the bridge, which is one of the longest in the country funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF)
The Director of the National Authorising Office, Ambrose James and the Director of Planning, Policy and Research at the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Engineer Vandy French together with other relevant stakeholders witnessed this important exercise of the launch of the final set of steel beam across the Ribbi River.
On the 6th July, 2021, the first phase of 163 metre length steel beam was launched on the Mabang Bridge along the Songo-Moyamba road that leads to southern part of Sierra Leone.
The new 231 metre span Mabang steel bridge will have concrete deck and construction of 312 metres paved access roads on either side of the new bridge. The bridge is going have double lanes, and with 163 metre span composite of steel girders and Reinforced Concrete Deck Bridge over the Ribbi River.
The bridge which cost over 9 million Euro is part of the €40.7 million Moyamba-Moyamba Junction Road and Bridges project funded under the 11th European Development Fund as part of EU’s support to the Key Infrastructure project in Sierra Leone
The Director of the National Authorising Office (NAO), Ambrose James said Despite COVID restrictions, breaks during raining season and tough mangrove terrain, contractors have made considerable progress and when the bridge is completed, it’s going to be a major transformation that will ease the enormous transportation challenges citizens have endured over a long period of time.
Ambrose James said the NAO is satisfied with the works so far and very soon the new Mabang Bridge will enhance trade and commerce in communities along the Songo-Moyamba road and will no longer endanger their lives by using unsafe transportation means to access their towns and villages, including various chiefdoms in Moyamba and the western urban districts.
Director of Planning, Policy and Research at the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) Engineer Vandy French, said the SLRA who is responsible to provide technical supervision are satisfied with quality of work done so far.
Resident Engineer for Politechnica Adama Damena said the new double lane Mabang Bridge is projected to be complete by March 2022.
The new bridge infrastructure will serve to reduce travel time, vehicle operating costs, and accidents between Moyamba and Western Urban districts.
The National Authorising Office (NAO), continues to facilitate GOSL-EU Cooperation for the benefit of Sierra Leone.
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