Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-03-10 06:00:54
The long-awaited inauguration of the SAJ Bridge connecting Coromandel to Sorèze is taking place this Sunday. After being postponed multiple times, mainly due to recent unfavorable weather conditions, the ceremony, which will be attended by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and other Cabinet members, has been scheduled for this morning at 10:30 am.
The SAJ Bridge is the result of over five years of work and an investment of Rs 4.31 billion. With a total length of one kilometer, including the suspended bridge crossing the gorges of Grande-Rivière-Nord-Ouest for 330 meters, it links the Port Louis/Saint-Jean route to the M1 highway. The work was particularly delicate, mainly due to the terrain and the risk of cliff collapses, as highlighted in a report by engineers from the Korea Expressway Corporation in April 2018. These challenges forced the Transinvest – GCC – Bouygues TP consortium to revise their plans and modify the positioning of the bridge’s pillars.
Despite the obstacles, the SAJ Bridge represents an engineering feat and is a flagship project of the government’s mandate, involving the contribution of around thirty foreign experts. Mauritian engineers have had the opportunity to acquire new skills on this large-scale project. This new infrastructure, unique in this part of the Indian Ocean, is expected to improve traffic flow and facilitate access to other sections of the region.
Initially scheduled for February 22nd with a grand program including the participation of the Helicopter Squadron to spread flowers on the new bridge, this inauguration had to be postponed several times. The Arsenal tragedy, which occurred a week ago, also weighed on the event. Finally, this Sunday, in simplicity, contrary to the initial plan, the Prime Minister will proceed with the “koup-riban” ceremony.
The commissioning of the bridge is eagerly awaited by motorists, who hope for a significant reduction in traffic jams on the A1 road and the M1 highway, as well as at Réduit and Ébène.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
