Africa’s longest bridge that’s 12.7 miles and took 30 years to build | World | News

This bridge is an impressive feat of engineering, not just because of its size, but because it also spans the Nile River not once but twice along its route. This remarkable structure stretches 12.7 miles through the heart of Cairo in  Egypt, making it the longest bridge on the African continent, according to the World Atlas. Construction of the bridge began in 1969 and took nearly 30 years to complete, finally opening in 1996.

The project reportedly cost close to £2.9 million, or about EGP 200 million at the time. It was named in honour of Egypt’s October 6, 1973 military operations during the Yom Kippur War. Serving as a vital artery for the capital‘s transportation network, the bridge connects Cairo’s major districts, all the way from Nasr City in the east, across Gezira Island and Downtown Cairo, and going further west into Giza.

From a design standpoint, the bridge blends viaduct-style segments with elevated highway portions, weaving its way through one of the most densely populated cities in Africa.

The fact that it crosses the Nile twice is a unique feature rarely seen in other major bridges around the world. Construction of the bridge was carried out in seven major stages, culminating in its official opening in 1996.

Later extensions, including an eighth stage, pushed the total length even further, connecting districts from Dokki to Ghamra, and eventually extending to the Autostrad motorway. 

According to Arab Contractors who built the bridge, the 6th of October Bridge is 14 to 34 meters wid and handles a massive volume of daily traffic. A staggering 500,000 reportedly use the bridge every single day which is why many locals often call it the ‘spinal cord of Cairo’. 

One TripAdvisor user wrote: “The 6th of October Bridge is an important thoroughfare in Cairo. It crosses the River Nile twice, connects the city to several highways and leads to the airport.

“As it is one of the main roads, it is very busy. It’s interesting to pass over it and know that the Nile River is right below it. Unmissable!”

Someone else said: “We resided on Gezira for a few days and enjoyed our Zamalek walks. One day we decided to walk this busy bridge and it was an interesting experience.

“Very nice views of Nile from the bridge. You can also admire the Gezira from that perspective.”