A new road and bridge link now connects Port Gentil with the rest of Gabon - image courtesy of © Ruslan Olinchuk, Dreamstime.com
Work is now complete on the new road and bridge link connecting Port-Gentil in Gabon to the rest of the country. Port-Gentil is the second largest city in Gabon after capital Libreville but previously lacked a direct road connection. In the past, travellers to the city either had to fly or use ferries but this new road connection will help develop the economy of the area and Gabon as a whole.
The 95km road link is now complete, having cost nearly US$663 million to build over a six year period. Originally, the project was intended to be complete by 2017 but was subject to unforeseen delays. Much of the financing for the project was provided by the Exim Bank of China, with the rest being provided by the Gabon Government.
The new road link was built in two stages by Chinese contractor China Bridge and Road Corporation (CBRC), with engineering supervision by German firm GAUFF Engineering. The road link includes two long bridges of 4.7km and 4.5km, which are the third and fourth longest in Africa respectively. With the opening of the route, drivers can now travel directly from Omboué to Port-Gentil, which is the centre of Gabon’s petrochemical industry. This new road link will provide a key economic boost for Gabon.
