The bridges, which are being supplied by Acrow, have a modular design and are a mix of single and multi-span structures of one- and two-lane widths, ranging in length from 12m to more than 100m.
They have been shipped to Zambia’s Road Development Agency as part of a package that includes structured financing arranged by Acrow as well as full training of site crews. The bridges are intended to contribute to the integration of remote rural communities into the broader domestic and regional economy and to enhance access to basic services.
Installation will be carried out exclusively by Zambian engineers, technicians and contractors, who will be trained in the field by Acrow on the assembly, installation and maintenance the structures.
The bridges have been designed so that they can be erected in challenging and remote locations in just days or weeks by a local workforce that has only minimal access to heavy equipment. Another feature of the modular design is easy customisation of each bridge to meet specific requirements. The bridges have been fabricated in the USA and have been treated with hot-dip zinc galvanisation to protect against corrosion.
“Bridging is an important infrastructure asset in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly for the support and development of agriculture as well as the integration of remote rural communities into the broader domestic and regional economy,” said Acrow Bridge senior vice president – international Paul Sullivan.
