A new bridge link is being planned that will improve transport connections between Senegal and Mauritania in West Africa. The 1.46km-long bridge will be constructed near to the town of Rosso in Mauritania, spanning the Senegal River that forms part of the border between it and Senegal to the south. The aim of the project is to boost transport along the N2 route connecting Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott with Senegal’s capital, Dakar.
The contract for the design of the structure has been won by a Portuguese firm, Grid International – Consulting Engineers. Building the bridge is expected to cost in the region of US$105.8 million. Financing for the project will be supplied partly by the African Development Bank (ADB) and European Investment Bank (EIB).
The new Rosso Bridge will replace the ferry service that allows crossings at present on the route. Building the bridge will boost both capacity and safety, as the ferries can be unreliable, particularly during the rainy season. Opening the bridge will help improve transport as a whole in this area of West Africa, with traffic volumes expected to triple by 2025 according to the AfDB.
