The Matadi Bridge, also known as the OEBK Bridge for Organisation pour l’équipement de Banana-Kinshasa, and formerly known as Pont Maréchal in French, is a suspension bridge across the Congo River at Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was completed in 1983 by a consortium of Japanese companies. With a main span of 520 metres (1,710 ft), it was the longest suspension bridge in Africa from its inauguration until the 2018 opening of the Maputo–Katembe bridge.[1] The bridge crosses the Congo River at its narrowest point, just downstream from the port of Matadi. It is in fact the only bridge across the Congo River proper, some other bridges span the Lualaba River, a tributary of the Congo.
Matadi Bridge was completed in 1983 by a consortium of Japanese companies, led by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries.[2] It has a main span of 520 metres (1,710 ft) and crosses the Congo River.[3] Matadi Bridge was built with 14,000 tons of steel.[4] The bridge is designed in a way to emphasize that the towers are made up of bar members, with each tower being a single rigid frame.[5] 25 million[clarification needed] of the bridge was paid for by the Japanese government at the request of President Mobutu at a cost of 34.5 billion Japanese yen.[4] During war time the bridge was guarded and still remains as of 2016.[3]
Railwayedit
A railway line across the bridge was intended to be part of a line to Boma and Muanda. However, it has never been in operation.[6]
^"Africa's longest suspension bridge opens to the public". 13 November 2018.
^Morikawa, Jun (January 1997). Japan and Africa: Big Business and Diplomacy. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. p. 138. ISBN978-1-85065-141-3.
^ abShimomura, Yasutami; Page, John; Kato, Hiroshi (26 January 2016). Japan's Development Assistance: Foreign Aid and the Post-2015 Agenda. Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 48–. ISBN978-1-137-50538-5.
^ abBernstein, Gail Lee; Fukui, Haruhiro (3 January 2016). Japan and the World: Essays on Japanese History and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 211. ISBN978-1-349-08682-5.
^Bridge Aesthetics Around the World. Transportation Research Board. 1991. p. 130. ISBN978-0-309-05072-2.
matadi, bridge, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Matadi Bridge news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Matadi Bridge also known as the OEBK Bridge for Organisation pour l equipement de Banana Kinshasa and formerly known as Pont Marechal in French is a suspension bridge across the Congo River at Matadi Democratic Republic of the Congo It was completed in 1983 by a consortium of Japanese companies With a main span of 520 metres 1 710 ft it was the longest suspension bridge in Africa from its inauguration until the 2018 opening of the Maputo Katembe bridge 1 The bridge crosses the Congo River at its narrowest point just downstream from the port of Matadi It is in fact the only bridge across the Congo River proper some other bridges span the Lualaba River a tributary of the Congo Matadi Bridge OEBK BridgeCoordinates5 49 28 S 13 26 02 E 5 824466 S 13 433865 E 5 824466 13 433865CrossesCongo RiverLocaleMatadiCharacteristicsDesignSuspension bridgeTotal length722 metres 2 369 ft Longest span520 metres 1 710 ft HistoryConstruction start1979Opened1983 41 years ago 1983 Location Contents 1 Construction 2 Railway 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksConstruction editMatadi Bridge was completed in 1983 by a consortium of Japanese companies led by Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries 2 It has a main span of 520 metres 1 710 ft and crosses the Congo River 3 Matadi Bridge was built with 14 000 tons of steel 4 The bridge is designed in a way to emphasize that the towers are made up of bar members with each tower being a single rigid frame 5 25 million clarification needed of the bridge was paid for by the Japanese government at the request of President Mobutu at a cost of 34 5 billion Japanese yen 4 During war time the bridge was guarded and still remains as of 2016 3 Railway editA railway line across the bridge was intended to be part of a line to Boma and Muanda However it has never been in operation 6 See also editList of road rail bridgesReferences edit Africa s longest suspension bridge opens to the public 13 November 2018 Morikawa Jun January 1997 Japan and Africa Big Business and Diplomacy C Hurst amp Co Publishers p 138 ISBN 978 1 85065 141 3 a b Shimomura Yasutami Page John Kato Hiroshi 26 January 2016 Japan s Development Assistance Foreign Aid and the Post 2015 Agenda Palgrave Macmillan UK pp 48 ISBN 978 1 137 50538 5 a b Bernstein Gail Lee Fukui Haruhiro 3 January 2016 Japan and the World Essays on Japanese History and Politics Palgrave Macmillan UK p 211 ISBN 978 1 349 08682 5 Bridge Aesthetics Around the World Transportation Research Board 1991 p 130 ISBN 978 0 309 05072 2 Railway Gazette International September 2012 p 42 External links editMatadi Suspension Bridge at Structurae Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matadi Bridge amp oldid 1209873442, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
