The project’s consultancy work has been awarded to Setec Tepi/Studi International and Mahfoos.

The African Development Bank has provided US$65 million of funding for the bridge over the River Gambia. The site is located 120m downstream of the current ferry. Five types of bridge structures were studied and compared before the decision was made to build a 942m cantilever bridge with prestressed concrete segments of variable height in the centre span and constant height on other spans.

Public-private partnership options were originally considered but would have required a tolls that were more than 130% greater than the current ferry tariffs. Instead, the government sought loans for the construction, with the completed bridge being managed and maintained by the country’s National Road Authority.