The Likoni floating bridge will be brought down in 2025. Transport CS James Macharia made the announcement and said that the 824 metre bridge is only a temporary measure for crossing channels.
“The bridge will be dismantled and set up in another area, like Lamu, where it will serve other Kenyans. The Sh 210 billion Mombasa Gate Bridge will be the permanent solution to the Likoni ferry crossing channel challenges,” said CS Macharia.
Likoni floating bridge
Construction works of the Sh.1.7billion project are being carried out by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and overseen by the KeNHA which is under the state’s ministry of transport and infrastructure. Designed for pedestrians only, the Likoni floating bridge deck will comprise a 529 m long floating section, and 54 m long approaches on either side of the floating span. It will have a discrete-continuous structural system with 35 No. double body supported boats, and 2 No. end boats with twin springboards installed to form the floating bridge deck. Its life span is at least 50 years
The floating suspension bridge will be connected by pins and hinges and guard rails will be installed on either side of the deck to ensure pedestrian safety. The Likoni floating footbridge, which is the first of its kind in the region, is expected to complement the existing ferry services to streamline ‘safe passageways’ for pedestrians and reduce overcrowding that characterizes the busy channel and consequently lower the risk of contracting Covid-19 on the vessels that ferry more than 300,000 commuters and approximately 6, 000 vehicles every single day.
