DRC Launches $23 Million Kwango Bridge Project to Strengthen RN1 Trade Corridor

DRC Invests $23 Million in New Kwango Bridge to Strengthen Kinshasa Trade Corridor

The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched construction of a new $23 million bridge over the Kwango River, a project expected to improve the safety and reliability of the National Road 1 (RN1) and strengthen road connectivity between Kinshasa and several provinces in the country’s interior.

Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works John Banza Lunda officially launched the project on September 3, with the new bridge being constructed upstream from the existing structure.

New bridge to replace ageing structure

The project follows technical assessments that identified significant deterioration of the existing bridge, which was built in the 1970s.

The investigations found settlement affecting some bridge piers, corrosion of the metal structure and insufficient rigidity in the deck.

Authorities said these defects could eventually compromise the safety and reliability of the crossing.

The new bridge will measure 283 metres long and 10 metres wide, comprising 10 spans one measuring 13 metres and nine measuring 30 metres.

The structure will be supported by two abutments and nine intermediate piers founded on piles designed according to the site’s geological and hydraulic conditions.

Project designed to maintain traffic

To prevent disruption to traffic along the RN1 during construction, a temporary metal bridge will be installed to maintain the crossing.

The project also includes a 497-metre access road, drainage infrastructure and safety installations designed to maintain traffic flow and improve road-user safety.

Engineering studies have considered the river’s characteristics, local soil conditions, heavy rainfall and the risk of scour around the bridge foundations.

Strategic importance for trade and logistics

The Kwango crossing is an important component of the RN1, which connects Kinshasa with Kwango and Kwilu provinces and, further east, the Greater Kasaï region.

Securing the crossing is expected to improve the movement of people, agricultural products and commercial goods along the corridor while reducing the risk of interruptions caused by the deteriorating existing bridge.

For businesses operating along the corridor, improved road reliability could help reduce transport disruptions and strengthen connections between production areas and major markets.

The project could also contribute to the broader economic integration of provinces that remain heavily dependent on road transport for the movement of agricultural produce and other goods.

Part of Sino-Congolese infrastructure programme

The $23 million project is being implemented under the Sino-Congolese Programme.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works is responsible for the project, with the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT) serving as delegated project owner and SISC participating in the execution of the works.

The construction of the new Kwango Bridge forms part of broader efforts to improve the DRC’s road infrastructure and strengthen critical transport links between Kinshasa and the country’s interior.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to provide a safer and more resilient crossing while helping preserve the continuity of traffic along one of the country’s important road corridors.