Athi River Super Bridge

1°26′36.05″S 36°58′5.9″E / 1.4433472°S 36.968306°E / -1.4433472; 36.968306CarriesMombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge RailwayCrossesAthi RiverMaintained byKenya Railways CorporationCharacteristicsDesignBeam bridgeTotal length2,785 metres (9,137 ft; 1.731 mi)Width5.5 metres (18 ft)Height20 metres (66 ft) (pylons)Longest span18 metres (59 ft)Clearance above18mClearance below25 metres (82 ft)HistoryConstruction start2015Construction end5 November 2016Opened1 June 2017StatisticsDaily trafficRailwayLocation

The Athi River Super Bridge is the longest bridge on the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). It was built to carry a single-track railway line over the Athi River as it approaches the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi. At the time of its construction, the 2.6 km (1.6 mi) bridge was the sixth-longest bridge in Africa and the second-longest railway bridge, exceeded only by the Dona Ana Bridge at 3.67 km (2.28 mi).^[1]

The bridge's length was necessary to avoid cutting through the town of Athi River. A direct crossing would have required the destruction of many residences or a major industrial zone. To avoid built-up areas, the Standard Gauge Railway turns to skirt the eastern side of the town. The Super Bridge crosses the meandering Athi River three times, running through undeveloped land in the river's flood plain.

Photos

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  Athi River Super Bridge during construction, June 2016
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  Launching of the bridge by the minister Andrew Nyakera

References