How a $260M bridge negotiated Africa’s most unusual border

Geopolitics performed a big half within the bridge’s design. Kazungula spans an space of Africa often known as the “quadripoint,” says Chifunda. Sixty-five kilometers (40 miles) upstream from Victoria Falls, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe converge on the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers. The international locations’ borders prolong into the rivers, so Kazungula Bridge was formed with a pronounced curve to weave by way of the panorama, avoiding Zimbabwean waters, says Chifunda.

“Africa was massively represented on this mission,” says Chifunda. Though development was overseen by South Korean firm Daewoo E&C, the crew was multinational, he says, and uncooked supplies together with cement, metal and aggregates got here from throughout southern Africa.

As a major funding for Zambia and Botswana, the bridge is filled with know-how to make sure its long-term future.

Chifunda explains {that a} structural well being monitoring system “provides indicators to which a part of the bridge wants upkeep. And we even have a climate station — we measure wind pace, rainfall, we even measure excitation, that’s, the motion of the (suspension) cables.

“If there may be hazard, the station will ship a sign by way of a message on the cellphone, by way of e-mail as nicely, in order that the 2 member states can attend to any upkeep wants.”

New customs

At both finish of the bridge are one-stop customs workplaces, so freight crossing the border solely wants processing by one nation. Expediency is critical now that there’s a increased quantity of every day visitors.

Chikumbi Chama, assistant commissioner on the Zambia Income Authority, says the bridge has allowed longer working hours, with the border open between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The previous border facility acquired as much as 80 vehicles a day, now customs is receiving over 280, she provides, and “the numbers are rising each day.” However regardless of the upper quantity of visitors, “(the) transit interval has been decreased to half a day.”

Truck driver Reminiscence Lambie criss-crosses the area with an indication studying “BOSS LADY” in her windscreen. Nonetheless, she remembers the “huge problem” crossing the Zambezi earlier than the bridge; 10-kilometer queues on the border and as much as two weeks ready to get into Zambia. “Now it is simple,” Lambie says, including with the sooner journeys, she’s in a position to spend extra time together with her kids.

Protecting the wheels in movement

A 12 months after opening, the bridge is but to appreciate its full potential, as a result of the practice line that runs by way of its heart is just not but operational.

The rail hyperlink is meant for each passengers and freight, says Chifunda, the mission engineer, however crossings will not run concurrently with vehicles and vehicles. “The bridge has been designed in such a method that the practice and the automobiles can’t use the bridge on the identical time,” he explains. Car visitors is cleared, then a practice crosses, then car visitors can resume.

As soon as related to current rail infrastructure in Botswana and Zambia, a fair increased quantity of cargo will be capable of journey throughout the bridge and round southern Africa, says Chama.

“Sooner or later panorama, I see rail cargo turning into a distinguished characteristic,” Chama provides. However a timeline for when the bridge can be totally related is unclear, with talks between Botswana and Zambia ongoing, says Chifunda.

Within the meantime, vehicles proceed to go backwards and forwards throughout the Zambezi River, with higher haste and ease than ever earlier than. For drivers like Lambie, it has already proved a revelation. “The bridge is 100% excellent to us,” she says.