Athi River Super Bridge

The Athi River Super Bridge is the longest bridge on the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). It was built to carry a single-track railway line over the Athi River as it approaches the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi. At the time of its construction, the 2.6 km (1.6 mi) bridge was the sixth-longest bridge in Africa and the second-longest railway bridge, exceeded only by the Dona Ana Bridge at 3.67 km (2.28 mi).[1]

Athi River Super Bridge
Athi River Super Bridge during construction, September 2016
Coordinates1°26′36.05″S 36°58′5.9″E / 1.4433472°S 36.968306°E / -1.4433472; 36.968306
CarriesMombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway
CrossesAthi River
Maintained byKenya Railways Corporation
Characteristics
DesignBeam bridge
Total length2,785 metres (9,137 ft; 1.731 mi)
Width5.5 metres (18 ft)
Height20 metres (66 ft) (pylons)
Longest span18 metres (59 ft)
Clearance above18m
Clearance below25 metres (82 ft)
History
Construction start2015
Construction end5 November 2016
Opened1 June 2017
Statistics
Daily trafficRailway
Location
Map

The bridge's length was necessary to avoid cutting through the town of Athi River. A direct crossing would have required the destruction of many residences or a major industrial zone. To avoid built-up areas, the Standard Gauge Railway turns to skirt the eastern side of the town. The Super Bridge crosses the meandering Athi River three times, running through undeveloped land in the river's flood plain.

Photos

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Athi River Super Bridge Progress". Africa Infrastructure Digest. 28 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017. When complete, the bridge will be among the longest bridges in Africa dislodging Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge in Mozambique from number 6 (six) at 2.37 km.