The 24 km Senegambia Bridge access road has been commissioned by Adama Barrow, President of The Gambia
The 942 m bridge, co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Union (EU) and completed in 2019, is a link which has boosted trade between Gambians and the rest of the continent.
"With the completion of the construction works here, we are confident that regional trade will be enhanced and goods and services passing through this access road will reach more distant countries with ease and on time," the President remarked.
The construction of the Senegambia Bridge is part of the Trans-Gambia Corridor Project which, the President noted, had eliminated delays and difficulties in ferry crossings that had previously occurred in the region. Previously, it took at least two days to get a ferry across the Gambia River, now it takes just ten minutes for vehicles to do so.
The President continued, "We were convinced that strengthening the road between the northern and southern border crossings of the corridor would ensure the sustainability of the investments made in the road section. This view was reinforced by the projected increase in traffic after the completion of the bridge.”
He also expressed his gratitude to AfDB and the EU for supporting his Government’s efforts to provide the necessary infrastructure for the nation.
Akinwumi Adesina, AfDB president, also toured the road and expressed satisfaction that the bridge has increased economic integration and trade between the country, Senegal and other neighbouring countries. Adesina said that the bridge has transformed the livelihoods of nearly one million people, primarily rural communities, and private businesses in the freight sector. Vehicular traffic has increased substantially from 532 to at least 15,000 vehicles per day.
