Top 10 African Countries With the Longest Bridges

In Summary

• There is only one bridge in Africa that connects two continents, the Suez Canal bridge in Egypt joining the Sinai Peninsula in Asia, making this a vital global trade route.
• Mozambique, once torn apart by war, is remarkably home to three of the longest bridges in Africa. Infrastructure has played a key role in the rise of its development and in reconnecting provinces.
• The third mainland bridge in Nigeria ranked second, but it remains the busiest on this list. Handling Lagos's daily traffic and day-to-day movement has tested its durability.

Deep Dive!!

The term “longest bridge" can be applied to length and size. But here in Africa, these bridges serve more than that; they are lifelines. They connect the citizens together and have helped in the development of their day-to-day lives. Africa bridges cut across massive bays, vast floodplains, and deep rivers that have once disrupted the smooth flow of trade, opportunity, and healthcare. In Cairo, they help reduce the surface level traffic, while in countries like Mozambique, they've helped replace the unreliable ferries, and in Nigeria, they handle the millions of commuters day to day movement.

These rankings are based on the total structural length, including elevated roadways, suspended spans, and access ramps.

10. Mkapa Bridge - Tanzania

The Mkapa Bridge, with 0.6 Miles (970 M), is located in Southeastern Tanzania, and it spans the Rufiji River, connecting Dar es Salaam to regions that were unreachable during the rainy season. Mkapa Bridge was commissioned in 2003 and named after the former president, Benjamin Mkapa, although it was largely funded by Kuwait, OPEC, and Saudi Arabia. It connects the Southeastern part with the rest of the country. The bridge cost nearly $30 million and accounts for 10% of the national infrastructure budget making it one of the most expensive projects in the country at that time.

9. Wouri Bridge - Cameroon

The Wouri Bridge is 1.1 Miles ( 1.8 Km). Built in the 1950s during French colonial rule, it's more than 70 years old now. The bridge connects the port city of Douala to western Cameroon. It was originally built to accommodate about 2000 vehicles daily, carrying both rail and road traffic, but today, that number has extended to over 50,000 vehicles a day, making it one of the overloaded bridges in central Africa. To control this, in 2017, the government constructed a second parallel bridge to reduce the pressure.

8. Qasr Al Nil Bridge - Egypt

With a length of 1.2 Miles (1.93 Km), Qasr Al Nil Bridge was completed in 1933 and lined by giant bronze lion statues on both sides. Beyond the aesthetics, it is the first bridge to run through the Nile within central Cairo holding political and symbolic value. Qasr Al Nil Bridge has played a significant role in the country. It links downtown Cairo with the upscale island district of Zamalek and also served as a Central route for protesters to reach Tahrir Square during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Although it cannot be compared to the others in terms of length, it has a deep Egyptian history.

7. Armando Emílio Guebuza Bridge - Mozambique

The Armando Emílio Guebuza Bridge was inaugurated in 2009 and was named after former president Armando Guebuza, although it was largely funded and technically supported by Japan. The bridge has a length of 1.88 Miles ( 3.04 km) and is built across the Zambezi River connecting the central provinces of Sofala and Zambezi. Before the construction of the bridge, ferries were used to cross the river, and they were in situations of dangerous overload, but now the bridge serves as an improved flow of transportation for people and goods.

6. Mozambique Island Bridge - Mozambique

The Mozambique Island Bridge was built in 1969, and it is the longest bridge in Africa to run through the open ocean. Although it is a one-lane bridge without modern traffic controls, it still handles over 1000 vehicles daily. Having a length of 2.1 Miles (3.39 Km), the bridge connects the Island of Mozambique, the former capital of Portuguese East Africa, and a UNESCO World Heritage site to the mainland. It is the only means of transportation that links the island and the mainland, keeping the island active for trade and tourism.

5. Hachef Viaduct - Morocco

The Hachef Viaduct bridge has a length of 2.15 Miles (3.46 Km). It was completed in 2018, and it is the longest bridge in North Africa. It is the train route that links Tangier and Casablanca. The bridge is made strong enough to handle earthquakes that sometimes happen in the area, and it was also built to cross the Hachef River valley, which has uneven ground with hills. The Hachef Viaduct bridge serves as a quick and safe means of transportation linking major cities in Morocco.

4. Dona Ana Bridge - Mozambique

The Dona Ana Bridge has gone through several transformations over the years. Having a length of 2.3 Miles ( 3.67 Km), it was originally built in 1934 as a railway bridge for exporting coal in Malawi to the port of Beira; it was also converted to a carry road and pedestrian traffic during the Mozambican Civil War when others were destroyed. It has served so many functions like pedestrian, rail, and wartime escape routes, making it a symbol of resilience in the Zambezi region.

3. Suez Canal Bridge - Egypt

The Suez Canal Bridge is the only Bridge in Africa that connects to Asia. It was completed in 2001 with Japanese funding and has a length of 3.4 Miles (3.9 Km). The Suez Canal Bridge can also be called the Peace Bridge or El Salam Bridge. With a clearance of almost 70 meters, it rises high enough to allow cargo ships to pass beneath. The bridge links Sinai to the rest of the country, making it a vital part of Egypt's trade and transportation strategy. It is under tight security and heavily military-zoned due to its strategic location.

2. Third Mainland Bridge - Nigeria

Nigeria's Third Mainland Bridge is the busiest in all of Africa. Connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, the bridge is the most heavily used in Africa because of its location in Nigeria's busiest and commercialized state. Due to its heavy use, it has faced structural issues like subsidence and expansion joint failures, leading to repairs and closures. With a length of 7.3 Miles (11.8 Km), it once held the record for the longest bridge in Africa.

1. 6th October Bridge - Egypt

The 6th October Bridge is the longest bridge in Africa and one of the longest elevated roads in the world. It was built for nearly three decades, starting construction in 1969 and ending in 1996. With a length of 12.7 Miles (20.5 Km), it is built across the Nile and then through the heart of the city. The 6th October Bridge is often called the “Spine of Cairo" and also "the second ground”. It was also named after Egypt's military victory during the War in October 1973.