Kinshasa, September 3rd, 2026 (CPA). The Minister in charge of Infrastructure and Public Works has launched on Thursday in Kwango, in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the construction of a new 283-metre-long bridge linking National Road 1 (RN1) across the river of the same name, according to a press release.
‘In reality, the decision to build this new bridge is primarily a response to the worrying condition of the existing structure, which was built in the 1970s. The technical investigations have, in particular, revealed significant settlement of certain piers, the corrosion of the metal structure and an insufficient rigidity of the deck. All these issues could, over time, compromise the safety and reliability of this strategic crossing,” it is read in the minister’s press release.
According to the source, the cost of the bridge works is estimated at 23 million US dollars and the structure will comprise ten spans, including one measuring 13 meters and nine measuring 30 meters, all constructed from prestressed concrete beams. The structure will rest on two abutments and nine intermediate piers founded on piles adapted to the site’s geotechnical characteristics. “The construction of the new Kwango Bridge therefore meets a twofold requirement: to ensure the long-term safety of the crossing over the River Kwango and to guarantee the continuity of traffic on this major section of the RN1,” has explained Jean-Claude Mido, Deputy General Director of the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT).
The press release has specified that a temporary steel bridge will be erected to maintain traffic flow whilst the works are underway. A 497-meter access road, drainage works and the necessary measures to ensure safety and the continuity of traffic complete the project. For his part, Willy Bitwisila, Governor of Kwango Province, has placed this infrastructure within a broader context, calling on the people within his jurisdiction to look after the new structure.
“This new structure aims to maintain a link between people and territories, between communities and markets, and between Kwango and the other provinces of our country. Infrastructure only truly has value when it improves the lives of the men and women for whom it was designed,” he has said in the document. These works are being carried out by the Congolese Agency for Infrastructure and Public Works (ACGT) as the delegated project owner, as part of the Sino-Congolese Programme. CPA/