GREAT AFRICAN BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19860, 2 February 1928, Page 15

GREAT AFRICAN BRIDGE.

LONGEST IN THE CONTINENT. to cost Nearly a million. A great new bridge is to be built at Mukurdi, on the eastern division of the Nigerian railway, in order to provide better facilities for rail, and road traffic than arc possible by the existing train ferry service over the river Benue. The bridge, with a total length between abutments of no less than 2584 ft., will rank a3 the longest in the African Continent. It will comprise thirteen spans—fivo 180 ft. approach dack spans on each sic'o of the river, and three 240 ft. through spans. All of the piers, except the two centre Eiers, are to be founded on rock. The ase of the two centre piers will be approximately 90ft. below low river level. The normal difference of level between high and low water is 25ft., the exceptional flood levisl being 4ft. higher. There will be a clear headroom above exceptional flood level of 36ft. 6in. The piers will be of concrete, founded on steel caissons, with moulded facing blocks. The bridge is intended to accommodate a single railway track of 3ft. 6in. gauge, and the designs provide for the bridge to be used for road vehicles ana foot passengers when not utilised for railway purposes. Ihe total amount of see work comprised in the bridgs spars an foundations will be 8273 tons. The contract for the work, which « . be completed within four and a-b|tf from date, has been awarded toS^Wj. Arrol and Company, Limited, marnock Ironworks, Glasg . „r tender «... The scheme will be ca Crown Agents general direction of of. the for the Colonies acting: designs Nigerian Govern"""'> of the consultand under the S "P Fitzniauricfl ; Wiling engineers, Coode, JSh ttJ s'm clj AWt, H»J both of Westminster. ' 1 .. :-*? : |f|Sg