The bridge is expected to improve local transportation conditions.
The LOT 3 section of the Sierra Leone Rural Bridges Joint Project, built by POWERCHINA, was completed and handed over on Nov 30. Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio attended the handover ceremony and cut the ribbon.
Located at the Gendema ferry crossing in Kenema District, southeastern Sierra Leone, the project is a vital livelihood initiative. The construction involved the design and building of a continuous steel-concrete composite river-crossing bridge, spanning 121.5 meters with a maximum span of 40 meters. The bridge features a single-lane two-way carriageway and a pedestrian walkway, with a design speed of 60 kilometers per hour.
Since its commencement, the project team has overcome challenges posed by harsh weather and complex construction conditions. They adjusted construction plans, optimized resource allocation, and implemented full-process quality control.
Every phase, from foundation excavation and main structure construction to material inspection and process control, adhered to strict quality standards. The innovative application of building information modeling technology digitized and visualized the project's design drawings, ensuring precise control over construction details. Additionally, proactive communication with the client ensured efficient collaboration and steady progress.
As a critical infrastructure project in eastern Sierra Leone, the project's completion is expected to improve transportation conditions, reduce travel time and costs, eliminate the safety hazards posed by manual ferry crossings, and enhance economic and cultural exchanges between markets and communities on both sides of the river.
It will also facilitate the circulation of agricultural products and other goods, accelerating connectivity in local agriculture, healthcare, and education, thereby injecting strong momentum into regional economic and social development.
