Construction Of Ethiopia’s Longest Bridge Begins

ADDIS ABEBA – Ethiopia has officially launched the construction of its longest bridge across the Abay River in the Amhara regional state.

Friday’s launching event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, Administrator of the region Temesgen Tiruneh, and Transport minister Dagmawit Moges, among others.

It will have a 21.5m width and the capacity to accommodate a three-lane carriageway, a bicycle path, and a walkway. It will cost the government close to 50 million USD.

The construction project is expected to take three years to complete, reports state run-news agency.

China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), which will undertake the construction signed a deal with the Ethiopian Government to design and build the bridge in May.

The Bahir Dar Abay bridge will be the longest bridge in Ethiopia once completed, taking over that claim from the 319m Bashilo River Bridge that opened for traffic on October 2006.

The 305m bridge over the Baro River in Gambella Regional State and the 303m Abay Bridge were the second and third-longest bridges in the country.

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[Photo ENA]