MASTERPIECE! It is, but just one of the many superlatives used to describe the US$174 million multi million bilateral Kazungula Bridge that is nearing completion.
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 Kasane in Botswana and is curved to avoid the nearby borders of Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The bridge which is built on the confluence of the Zambezi River in Zambia and Chobe River in Botswana where four countries [Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe] join, also features a single-line railway track between two traffic lanes and pavements for pedestrians.
The bridge is part of the US$259.3 multi million Kazungula Bridge Project, which includes international border facilities in Zambia and Botswana.
The groundbreaking for the construction of the project which many feel will ease transportation of goods and services between the two countries while linking the region to the rest of Africa was on 12 October 2014 in Kasane, Botswana.
With works progressing well, the contractor, Daewoo Engineering Company of South Korea is now envisaging the handover to be in August or early September.
The Road Development Agency (RDA) recently conducted a media tour of the project to appreciate the works.
RDA director for communications and corporate affairs Masuzyo Ndhlovu said the Kazungula bridge project now stands at 99 percent completion and is expected to be completed by September.
All major works on the bridge are done with only minor final touches remaining.
“I should say that in terms of physical progress, they are now at 99 percent and as you can see, what is remaining is just the road furniture [markings, lighting and embankment]. This is a railway-road bridge and you've seen that the railway line which will join the Zambia Railways line has been done,” he said.
Mr Ndhlovu said construction of the Package Two and Package Three of the project which are the US$44 million and K263 million One Stop Border Posts on the Botswana and Zambia side respectively now stands at 96 percent complete.
“Access roads linking the two facilities to the bridge are being constructed and in terms of physical progress, we are talking about 96 percent physical progress,” he said.
Mr Ndhlovu said the Kazungula Bridge Project will not only benefit Zambia and Botswana alone, but the entire SADC region.
“...as it is also going to open up and be a gateway to the SADC region as all member states stand to benefit from it. A lot of work has gone into the construction of this bridge and as you can see, it's so colourful, it's an engineering marvel, and I think we should commend the two countries for putting up this well structured bridge,” he said.
He said once complete, the Kazungula Bridge Project will be commissioned by President Edgar Lungu and his Botswana counterpart.
“This project is going to boost the country's economy and ease transportation of goods and services. That is why the Government holds this project in very high esteem,” he said.
Kazungula Bridge Project manager for Zambia Godfrey Songeya also gave assurances of no further postponements to the completion dates of the project.
“I will tell you that projects of this size and nature usually come with their own challenges, of course those challenges are manageable and as you can see, in terms of where we are, we have managed to deal with all the major challenges that we’ve had. We have passed a stage where we were putting concrete and this structure is up. What we are remaining with is road furniture.
“So, in terms of completion, we can assure you that we are completing this project by the end of August or the beginning of September and I don't think we are going to make any postponements in terms of completion,” said Mr Songeya who was flanked by his Botswana counterpart Pius Seone.
In terms of the management and maintenance of the project once complete, Mr Songeya disclosed that Zambia and Botswana have agreed to form the Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA) to oversee operations and maintenance.
“As you may be aware, we rely on the ferry here for movement of goods and services. Once the bridge is completed it will reduce the transit time and reduce time based trade and transport trade and furthermore, it will improve border management operations arising from the two new one stop border facilities being constructed on both sides.
“It is for this reason that the two governments have an agreement to form a joint authority that will be in charge of the running and maintenance of the facilities to ensure smooth flow of business here once it is fully operational,” he said.
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