Name of the Project
 Okavango River bridge project. 

Location
The project is located in Mohembo village, in Botswana.

Client
Department of Roads in the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a 1.2 km bridge across the Okavango river, including about 3 km of road and associated stormwater drainage works.

The main work components are:
• construction of about 400 m of cable-stayed bridge over the main channel and about 761 m of incrementally launched prestressed concrete box Girder bridge, founded on bored-cast in situ concrete piles in the form of Oscillator piles to the highly/moderately weathered rock at up to 30 m below natural ground level;
• construction of a 3 km main approach road to bitumen standard (asphalt concrete) and associated stormwater drainage works; and
• electrical installation and reticulation to the 1.161-km-long bridge and street lighting along the 3 km approach roads.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Value
P1-billion.

Duration
The project is expected to take 36 months to complete.

Latest Developments
The Botswana government has contracted an Italian joint venture company – Itinera-Cimolai – to build the Okavango River bridge.

Itinera is a civil engineering contractor, while Cimolai is a major Italian steel manufacturer specialising in structures that include bridges, industrial and civic buildings, among other heavy structural engineering projects.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Itinera-Cimolai (construction contract).

On Budget and on Time?
Plans for the construction of the bridge were first mooted 31 years ago, but it has been postponed countless times since then, owing to financial problems.

Contact Details for Project Information
Ministry of Transport and Communications chief public relations officer Titi Nyadza, email tnyadza@nyadzagov.bw.