The Brazzaville–Kinshasa Road/Rail Bridge is a proposed fixed crossing over the Congo River between the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is intended to provide a direct road and rail connection, reduce dependence on ferry crossings and integrate border and transport facilities. The project remains in PPP structuring and tender preparation.
<p>The project includes the construction of a road and rail bridge between Brazzaville in Congo and Kinshasa in the DRC. The project also includes road and rail links in both countries as well as joint border control points (One Stop Border Posts). A border control post will be located at each end of the bridge and will house border control officers. Inspections will only be conducted on one side of the river (i.e. on the departure side). The existing road infrastructure will be extended by 10km to connect the bridge to the two cities.</p>
<p>The railway bridge will have a total length of 1 575m and 10 bays divided as follows: 2 bays of 120m, 4 bays of 152m, 2 bays of 242m and two bays of 121.5m. The profile on the other side of the road consists of two unidirectional sidewalks with two lanes of 3m. The total width of the road, including sidewalks, is 16.24 m.</p>
<p>The two large cable-stayed spans (242m and 152m), located in the river along the banks, give the bridge a gateway to the capitals. The bridge will be located in Maloukou Trechot, 6km from the city of Maluku in Congo. The site is 55km from the two capitals along the river.</p>
<p>The bridge is part of a larger project, the Kinshasa-Ilebo railway project, which aims to improve the rail network in Africa. The larger project is expected to contribute to increased regional trade and accelerate regional integration between Central and Southern Africa. The project is expected to allow for cheaper and faster river crossing by passengers and freight. The beneficiaries of the project will therefore include the two countries whose fisci will benefit from increased trade, the increased presence of domestic and foreign companies in both countries, from private transporters and the economic and social benefits of liberated movement of both populations</p>
<p>The project aims to create a fixed link between the cities of Brazzaville and Kinshasa through the construction of a rail-road bridge designed to ensure the safe and cost effective movement of vehicle and rail traffic.</p>
<p>Throught the construction of the bridge, the project aims to do the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Strengthen regional integration;</li>
<li>Stimulate trade and strengthen the economic integration between Congo and the DRC;</li>
<li>Improve the living environment of the inhabitants of Kinshasa and Brazzaville;</li>
<li>Improve and secure links between Brazzaville, Kinshasa and the ports of Pointe Noire and Banana;</li>
<li>Encourage the movement of people and goods along the Tripoli- Windhoek corridor; and</li>
<li>Boost trade between the DRC, Cameroon and Gabon.</li>
</ul>