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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 17 Jan 2019 : 20:54:58
President Adama Barrow to Inaugurate TransGambia Bridge on Monday
State House, Banjul, 17th January, 2019 – The Public is hereby informed that His Excellency, Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia, alongside His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, will on Monday 21st January 2019 preside over the inauguration of the much anticipated Trans-Gambia Bridge.
The bridge, which is part of the Trans-Gambian Road Corridor, is a vital economic and strategic link connecting north and south banks of the River Gambia as well as The Gambia, Senegal and other countries in the sub-region.
Following a long lull in the construction of the bridge during the former regime, the Barrow government upon coming into office took up the completion of the project as a key priority. Taking into account the strategic interest of the country and in line with the integration agenda of the ECOWAS sub-region, the Barrow government mobilized the much needed funds from the African Development Bank to continue the construction.
The potentials of a bridge at Bamba Tenda - Yelli Tenda crossing prompted President Barrow and other Senegambian leaders before him to support this major infrastructural development project for the good of the peoples of both countries, and the entire region by extension. Thus, it is with delight that the President takes great pride in overseeing the completion and inauguration of a pan-African project that captures the interest of several sub-regional leaders since the immediate post-independence era.
The bridge is one of the biggest in the sub-region with a length of 1.9 kilometres and over five storeys high. It is designed to be a tolled-bridge that would accommodate the passage of most vessels, while longer-mast boats can easily fold their masts to pass through the bridge. Fifty seven percent of workers are Gambians, eighteen per cent expatriates, and twenty per cent other ECOWAS citizens. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 10 Jun 2019 : 13:20:24
The government on Thursday announced that the Sene-Gambia Bridge will be closed to all traffic from 15th of June 2019 to 30th of June 2019.
According to a press statement from the Ministry of Transport, Work and Infrastructure and the management of the National Roads Authority the closure is necessary to allow the contractor to carry out the finishing touches to the bridge.
It added: “During the period of this closure, the Gambia Ferry Services will continue the service of ferrying people, vehicles and goods across the river.
“The Ministry and the NRA apologise sincerely to the travelers using this corridor for this inconvenience and would like to inform the public that service on the bridge will resume on the 1st of July 2019 when the bridge will be opened to all vehicular traffic including trucks.”
https://standard.gm/senegambia-bridge-to-be-closed-for-two-weeks/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 24 Jan 2019 : 17:04:52
This from The Standard Newspaper. also contains a U tube Video.
Senegalese President Macky Sall and Gambian President Adama Barrow inaugurated on Monday the “Senegambia Bridge”, which will promote trade in West Africa and whose completion after decades of delay symbolizes the renewed understanding between the two countries.
The inauguration of the bridge comes two years after Yahya Jammeh’s departure, who for more than 22 years ruled Gambia, a small English-speaking country landlocked in Senegal, with the exception of a narrow coastline that is popular with tourists.
The bridge, an elegant light concrete structure more than a kilometre long located in Gambian territory, crosses the Gambia River, about ten kilometres from the Farafenni border crossing point, which the two presidents, both dressed in white boubou, symbolically used on Monday, standing in the same limousine with an open roof.
We can be proud to have turned this dream of several generations into a reality
“Given the geography of Gambia and Senegal, with a river dividing each country into two parts, one wonders why it took so long to get this bridge,” Mr. Barrow asked himself at a ceremony at the foot of the new structure, whose construction began in 2015, under Yahya Jammeh.
“We can be proud to have turned this dream of several generations into a reality,” Sall said, adding that the bridge project, which had been discussed since the 1970s, had been affected as the relationship between Dakar and Banjul evolved.
Gambia’s presidency said that “the bridge, which is part of the Trans-Gambia Road Corridor, is a vital economic and strategic link connecting the north and south banks of the Gambia River as well as The Gambia, Senegal and other countries in the sub-region.”
It will enable those who want to travel from the north of Senegal to its southern region of Casamance, a tourist and agricultural region whose development has been hampered by its geographic isolation from the rest of the country – to avoid having to take a detour of some 400km.
Barrow-Sall bromance
The opening of the bridge illustrates the dramatic warming of relations between the two countries, long marked by disputes over transportation, fishing and borders, despite the fact that their inhabitants share common languages, ethnic origins and many professional, family and commercial ties.
This rapprochement took place when Mr. Barrow came to power in January 2017, as Senegal was at the forefront of diplomatic and, above all, military pressure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to force Yahya Jammeh to concede defeat in the December 2016 presidential election.
The country’s security is still supported by the ECOWAS force, composed mainly of Senegalese soldiers, whose mandate has been extended several times.
https://standard.gm/?p=51897 |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 24 Jan 2019 : 16:59:12
By
Madi M.K. Ceesay -
January 23, 2019
The Senegambia Bridge is just commissioned two days ago with a very fun-fare by the citizens of the two countries Gambia and Senegal. The occasion was graced by the two Presidents and their powerful government delegations. The members of the senior government officials of the two countries and their local government authorities were all fully represented on the occasion.
Members of the Gambia National Assembly also played a visible participation as the occasion was a national one; the two sides of the Bridge was very colorful with national and political party colors mainly the Golden Yellow color of the UDP .
The visiting head of State of Senegal President Macky Sall told the colorful and encouraging Senegambians that the Senegambia Bridge belongs to the People of the Gambia who are its rightful owners, adding that the bridge will promote African integration and facilitate both inter and intra trade between African countries.
President Sall urged the people of The Gambia to give all the support needed to President Barrow and his administration in a bid to fulfilling his developmental aspirations for the people of the Gambia.
ARESKI a Senegalese company that succeeded in constructing the Bridge says the new Bridge will serve for one hundred (100) years.
However what boggled many of the critical thinking masses and became the reason of raising the question if the Bridge is really ready or completed to serve the people, is the information that; ARESKI the company that built the Bridge says traffic on the Senegambia Bridge will be limited to light vehicles and commuters, while disclosing that the project will formerly be completed in July to accommodate all types of vehicles.
This is not a welcoming information for the truck drivers and other heavy vehicles; as if any other people suffer at this crossing point is the truck drivers. They the truck drivers spend days if not weeks before they can cross due to the limited space of the ferries that ferry vehicles across the river.
The Gambia government should come out clear as to whether they just wanted to have the bridge open as a symbolic gesture of the two years swearing in to office of President Barrow; but in real sense the Bridge is not yet ready for usage.
Why the Bridge is not ready for heavy trucks and commuters is a question that people who frequently use the bridge will ask.
Can government provide answers and what specific reasons are there for this segregation of which vehicles can or cannot use the bridge until July 2019? The people are waiting for answers.
Can the people also be assured as to whether these trucks and other heavy vehicles will not ply the bridge at odds times; there-by breaking the rule and what consequences dose that hold for us.
http://dailynewsgm.com/is-the-senegambia-bridge-really-completed/ |
| toubab1020 |
Posted - 24 Jan 2019 : 16:46:17
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
The president of Senegal, in a statement at the inauguration of the Senegambia Bridge at YelliTenda Crossing Point on Sunday, has clarified that the bridge is in Gambian territory and belongs to The Gambia.
President Macky Sall, who with his host, President Barrow officially presided over the opening of the bridge, explained that it was necessary to clarify this in light of new horizons that the Senegambia relations are attaining.
“Senegal and Gambia can only have peace. We may be colonised by French and English and therefore speak their languages as our official ones. But our native languages and cultures are ours. The benefits of the bridge are for both peoples but the bridge belongs to Gambia. It is in Gambia,” Mr. Sall said.
Top government officials of both governments on either side of the border graced the grand opening. Representatives of the African Union, the ECOWAS and the African Development Bank were among the dignitaries there, and so were mayors and representatives of Khalifa general of Kaolack.
President Sall described the inauguration as “something big for Senegambia relations” as he paid homage to his brother and friend, President Adama Barrow. The work would not have been completed today if not for the political-will shown in realising a long time Senegambia dream.
The Trans-Gambia Corridor Project is expected to facilitate overland traffic flow between the northern and southern parts of both The Gambia and Senegal, including West Africa and sub-region. The 243km road stretch corridor (Kaolack-Dingiraiya - Kerr Ayib – Farafenni – Senoba – Bigona – Zinguichor) will serve both intrastate and interstate traffic.
Given the geography of The Gambia and Senegal, with a river dividing both countries in two halves, President Adama Barrow in his inaugural speech said he could not help but wonder why it took so long to have a bridge at this point across the River Gambia.
In 1956, the first meeting between The Gambian minister of Works and Infrastructure, Rev. J.C. Faye and Senegalese counterpart agreed on two things: to construct a bridge across this crossing point and a road from KeurAyub to Senoba through Soma and Farafenni.
In 1961, when P.S. Njie became Chief Minister, The Gambia and Senegal became independent a year earlier, a special Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) was set up to discuss the TRANSGAMBIA BRIDGE.
In 1962, Sir Dawda Jawara became Chief Minister of The Gambia and gave this project a priority. He went around the World looking for funds. In 1971, France committed 3Million Pounds and extra funds to do a feasibility study, a new plan and a new costing of the project.
However, the project never kicked off due to what the current Minister of Works, Bai Lamin Jobe blamed on political, environmental and contractual issues.
“In spite of the delay, this magnificent bridge will, henceforth, be a major component of the Trans-Gambia corridor - a corridor that is essential for development, integration and trade expansion within the ECOWAS sub-region,” President Barrow told the gathering, as they cheered and waved flags of Gambia and Senegal.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) solely funded the project with a grant of over 3.5 billion dalasis.
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/senegambia-bridge-belongs-to-gambia-president-sall |
| Momodou |
Posted - 22 Jan 2019 : 10:03:52
Some Background to the Senegambia Bridge
By Madi Jobarteh
This bridge is the initiative of, and funded by the African Development Bank.
Here are excerpts from the project document to enhance people’s understanding of the genesis and objectives of the project.
Project Overview
The Trans-Gambia Road Transport Corridor is an economic and strategic link connecting the northern and southern parts of both The Gambia and Senegal, and by extension ECOWAS countries through the corridor between Dakar and Lagos. It thus highly supports regional integration and is consistent with the Bank's key focus areas of infrastructure and regional integration as mentioned in the Bank's Medium-Term Strategy (MTS 2008-2012) and Pillars 2 and 3 of the Regional Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (RPRSP) for West Africa. Due to the magnitude, complexity and varying readiness of project components, it is to be implemented in two phases.
Phase I, the subject of this PAR, includes the construction of the Trans-Gambia Bridge and two (2) One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) while Phase II comprises of rehabilitation of 137 km of Senoba-Ziguinchor road in Senegal and pavement strengthening of 24 km of Farafenni – Senoba road in The Gambia. The total project cost of Phase I, including contributions from the two governments is UA 67.36 million.
The project is co-financed by the Bank Group (99.07%), the Government of The Gambia (0.24%) and the Government of Senegal (0.69%). The project will be executed over a period of five years (2012 – 2017).
The construction of the bridge will allow free traffic flow between the northern and southern parts of both The Gambia and Senegal. The project will therefore reduce travel time, boost trade and reinforce cohesion among communities which were previously isolated. The project will facilitate the transportation of agricultural products to markets reducing post-harvest losses and boosting socio-economic activities.
Rationale for Bank’s involvement
The project responds to the challenges outlined in The Gambia’s Country Transport Sector Policy (under review) and Senegal’s Transport Sector Programme that aims to drive accessibility and regional integration. The Bank's involvement stems from the following: (i) the Trans-Gambia Road Transport Corridor is an economic and strategic link connecting the northern and southern parts of both The Gambia and Senegal, and by extension ECOWAS countries through the Dakar -Lagos corridor. It thus supports regional integration and is consistent with the Bank's key focus areas of infrastructure and regional integration as contained in the Bank's Medium-Term Strategy (MTS 2008-2012) and Pillars 2 and 3 of the Regional Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (RPRSP) for West Africa; (ii) the project is consistent with the two countries development objectives as highlighted in section 1.1; and (iii) the Bank is involved in similar regional flagship projects and will therefore leverage its wealth of experience and leadership.
Development Objectives
The sector goal of the project is to support economic growth of the countries on the Trans-Gambian Corridor (Kaolack-Trans-Gambian Highway-Ziguinchor), considered part of the Trans-West African Highway (Dakar –Lagos Corridor) and ECOWAS at large by fostering integration through reliable, efficient and seamless transport infrastructure that will increase the competitiveness of the whole region.
Legal instrument
The Bank instruments to finance this operation are an ADF Grant to The Gambia and a Loan to Senegal. The ADF Grant to The Gambia amounts to UA 63.55 million. The ADF Loan to Senegal amounts to UA 3.18 million. The standard ADF financing terms and conditions are applicable to the grant and loan.
Here is the link to follow up - https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Project-and-Operations/Multinational__The_Gambia-Senegal__-_AR_-_Construction_of_the_Trans-Gambia_Bridge_and_Cross_Border_Improvement_.pdf
Make your own judgement. |
| Momodou |
Posted - 21 Jan 2019 : 15:29:45
Barrow, Macky to preside over Trans-Gambia Bridge inauguration today
The Point: Monday, January 21, 2019
http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/barrow-macky-to-preside-over-trans-gambia-bridge-inauguration-today
President Adama Barrow alongside his counterpart Macky Sall, president of the Republic of Senegal, will today preside over the inauguration of the Trans-Gambia Bridge, Office of the President announced.
The bridge is one of the biggest in the sub-region with a length of 1.9 kilometres and over five storeys high. It is designed to be a tolled-bridge that would accommodate the passage of most vessels, while longer-mast boats can easily fold their masts to pass under the bridge. Fifty seven percent of workers are Gambians, eighteen per cent expatriates, and twenty per cent other ECOWAS citizens.
The potentials of a bridge at BambaTenda - YelliTenda crossing prompted President Barrow and other Senegambian leaders before him to support this major infrastructural development project for the benefits of the peoples of both countries; and by extension the entire region. “Thus, it is with delight that the President takes great pride in overseeing the completion and inauguration of a pan-African project that captures the interest of several sub-regional leaders since the immediate post-independence era.”
The trans-Gambia Bridge is one component of the Trans-Gambia corridor project. The project components comprise the following:
1. The construction of the Trans-Gambia Bridge and tolling facilities
2. The construction of two markets, one each in Soma and Farafenni, to relocate the traders currently doing business at the ferry crossing.
3. The construction of two joint border posts, one each at KeurAyib and Senegal
4. HIV/AIDS, road safety and gender awareness programme (new complete) and
5. Capacity building for NRA (new complete) and project monitoring and evaluation consultancy
The whole project is funded through a grant from the African Development Bank (ADB) in an amount of 65million AfDB units of account (approx. to GMD 4.5 billion). Of this sum, the bridges would eventually cost approximately 3.8 billion Gambia dalasis.
Work on the bridge commenced with the award of the consultancy contract for the design review and supervision of the bridge works to a consortium of firms (SETEC TPI, STUDI INTERNATIONAL AND SETEC International) in 2013. Upon completion of the design phase, the tender process for the construction of the bridge resulted in the selection of the joint venture of corsan-corviam (Spanish) and Arezki AS (Senegalese) and the contract was signed in December 2014 for a contract price of 52 million Euros. Following several changes in the design, the contract price for the works now stands at Euro 67.2 million. Work progressed with some formidable challenges that resulted in an 18 months delay in completion of the works. A significant challenge was the bankruptcy of the lead firm (70% share) of the consortium, the Spanish firm corsan-corviam, in July 2017, leaving only Arzeki to see the work through. Arzeki rose to the challenge and today we are preparing for the inauguration of the Senegambia Bridge.
Technical detail
1 Bridge length over the river: 92 metres
2. Bridge length over the approach swamps 360 meters south bank and 600 meters on north bank
3. Total length 1902 meters
4. Overall width 12.00 meters
5. Carriageway width 7.5 meters i.e one lane in either direction
6. Structure: prestressed box girder over the river and reinforced concrete structure over the swamps
7. Over the river, 15 spans on 2 abutments and 14 piers founded of steel driven piles
8.100m navigation channel allowed for river traffic with a 20m air-fraught (headroom).
9. Design life of the bridge: 100years
The bridge will be tolled. The toll will be managed by a concessionaire and the proceeds from the toll will be used for the maintenance of the bridge by the National Roads Authority.
The bridge, which is part of the Trans-Gambian Road Corridor, is a vital economic and strategic link connecting north and south banks of the River Gambia as well as The Gambia, Senegal and other countries in the sub-region. Following a long lull in the construction of the bridge during the former regime, the Barrow government upon coming into office took up the completion of the project as a key priority. Taking into account the strategic interest of the country and in line with the integration agenda of the ECOWAS sub-region, the Barrow government mobilized the much needed funds from the African Development Bank to continue the construction.
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| Momodou |
Posted - 18 Jan 2019 : 18:00:32
Photos: courtisy of Alhagie Manka - State of mic
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| toubab1020 |
Posted - 18 Jan 2019 : 14:46:52
"1. bridge construction is incomplete and 2. Gambia’s condescending behavior and willingness to play second fiddle. "
Again its all about MONEY & TRADE & politics ,there is NO DOUBT in my mind that this ROUTE is ESSENTIAL to Senegal,the costs involved in traversing other routes with MIGHTY Lorries to trade with other countries is going to be EXTREAMLY expensive removing a great deal of any profit to be made from goods sold.
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quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Opening of the Trans-Gambia Bridge
The Trans-Gambia Bridge is scheduled to be opened on Monday at the insistence of Senegal as part of Macky Sall’s presidential campaign. The problem with the opening is two-fold: 1. bridge construction is incomplete and 2. Gambia’s condescending behavior and willingness to play second fiddle.
Because the project is not complete, the contractor is unwilling to take any insurance risks which must now be the responsibility of The Gambia and Sénégal should the bridge sustain structural damage during the “faux” opening. The stunt is potentially an expensive proposition designed to help Macky Sall’s re-election campaign should the bridge sustain damages.
Our sources tell us the African Development Bank President believes also that the premature opening is a bad idea, and thus personally appealed to Macky Sall not to proceed. His advice went unheeded. It is unclear, and we cannot confirm, whether the ADB President reached out to Adama Barrow.
What is clear is that the Gambian President is going with the program because if it’s good enough for Macky, it’s good it enough for him too, regardless of the risks.
Sidi Sanneh
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| Momodou |
Posted - 18 Jan 2019 : 09:13:52
Opening of the Trans-Gambia Bridge
The Trans-Gambia Bridge is scheduled to be opened on Monday at the insistence of Senegal as part of Macky Sall’s presidential campaign. The problem with the opening is two-fold: 1. bridge construction is incomplete and 2. Gambia’s condescending behavior and willingness to play second fiddle.
Because the project is not complete, the contractor is unwilling to take any insurance risks which must now be the responsibility of The Gambia and Sénégal should the bridge sustain structural damage during the “faux” opening. The stunt is potentially an expensive proposition designed to help Macky Sall’s re-election campaign should the bridge sustain damages.
Our sources tell us the African Development Bank President believes also that the premature opening is a bad idea, and thus personally appealed to Macky Sall not to proceed. His advice went unheeded. It is unclear, and we cannot confirm, whether the ADB President reached out to Adama Barrow.
What is clear is that the Gambian President is going with the program because if it’s good enough for Macky, it’s good it enough for him too, regardless of the risks.
Sidi Sanneh
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| Momodou |
Posted - 18 Jan 2019 : 08:27:27
THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA
GOVERNMENT OF THE GAMBIA
Ministry of Transport, Works, & Infrastructure
MDI Road, Kanifing
PRESS RELEASE
17th January, 2019
OPENING OF THE TRANS-GAMBIA BRIDGE TO LIGHT TRAFFIC, EFFECTIVE, 21ST JANUARY, 2019
The general Public is hereby informed that Trans-Gambia bridge will be open to light traffic effective, January 2019. The following Vehicle categories will be allowed to use the bridge from 7am to 7pm daily.
Categories of Vehicles
-Private Vehicle
-Motor Cycle
-Car
-Jeeps and Double Cabin
-Car and Trailer
-Commercial Vehicle
-Minibus, Bus, not exceeding 35 Passengers
The above Vehicle categories allowed and prescribed time to use the bridge will be maintained until July 2019, when all ancillary works on the bridge and access roads are completed.
The prevailing ferry rates will remain applicable for the eligible vehicles until July 2019, when the toll rates will be thoroughly reviewed and communicated to all relevant stakeholders. In order to enhance movement of larger vehicles that are not allowed to use the bridge, the ferry services will continue its normal operations.
Please note that Security and Emergency services will be given exemption from tolling. However, in order for military and emergency services vehicles to receive the exemption, an official warrant (or alternate acceptable documentation) must be produced in the toll lane as proof of the right to exemption
The understanding and cooperation of the general public especially the drivers is highly solicited.
Essa Drammeh
FOR: PERMANENT SECRETARY
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