Some infrastructure projects simply take people’s breath away. Bridges, in particular, often do so because they look mighty impressive once they are finished. They are also important structures that help connect different parts of cities, regions or even entire countries.
While there are many impressive structures in Africa, very few comes close to the continent’s longest bridge. It’s busy and used every single day by hundreds of thousands of people. It is also extremely important for the economy of a major capital city and has become a well-known landmark for locals and visitors.
World Atlas says the bridge stretches 12.7 miles, making it the longest in Africa.
Engineers began working on it in 1969 and spent nearly three decades expanding it before completing the final structure.
It crosses the Nile twice, connects several districts, links major highways and even helps travellers reach the international airport.
The bridge in question is the 6th October Bridge in Cairo. At 20.5km (12.7 miles) long it is by far the longest bridge on the world’s second largest continent.
It was built to improve connectivity across Egypt’s capital, which continues to rely on it as an important transport route to this day.
Construction began in 1969 with the Egyptian company Arab Contractors. The first phase was only 130 metres long, but the project expanded stage by stage until the bridge opened in 1996.
Later extensions pushed its total length beyond 20 kilometres. Its name commemorates the date of Operation Badr in 1973, when Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War.
In 2023, World Atlas estimated that around 500,000 people used the bridge every day.
Locals often call it the “spinal cord of Cairo” because it is one of the city’s main east to west routes.
It links neighbourhoods, business areas, rail lines and other major roads, but it is also infamous for heavy traffic, with journeys sometimes taking over an hour from end to end.
Visitors regularly describe the bridge as one of Cairo’s most impressive modern structures.
One person said: “The bridge is an icon of the Nile River. Strolling on foot along the bridge is relaxing and entertaining.”
Another added: “One of the most impressive and breathtaking constructions in Cairo and the city has pyramids. It’s an engineering masterpiece in the middle of a bustling city.”
A third wrote: “The bridge is very crowded, as you would expect, but from an engineering standpoint it is bloody magnificent.”
The bridge was upgraded in 2021 when President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ordered expansion and works to improve traffic flow, as well as modernisation of the surrounding roads.
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