The Victoria Falls Bridge — connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia — has outlived its lifespan and needs to be urgently reconstructed to avert potential structural failures.
Built about 112 years ago, the bridge has outlived its lifespan by 12 years and the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe says it is working with Zambian authorities to fund the reconstruction at a high level estimate cots of $50 million.
This would be done through Emerged Railways Properties, which operates the bridge.
The Victoria Falls Bridge was constructed in 1905 at the height of British penetration of Northern and Southern Rhodesia. The brainchild of Cecil Rhodes, the bridge was designed by George Andrew Hobson. It crosses the Zambezi River and the Victoria Falls. The Zambezi River is a border separating Zimbabwe from Zambia and the bridge links the two countries.
Its construction took 14 months to construct and was completed on 11 April 1905.
The bridge has the only rail link between Zambia and Zimbabwe and also has a 46-tonne carrying roadway and a pedestrian walkway. Scheduled maintenance of the bridge is undertaken by the National Railways of Zimbabwe as contracted by ERP.
According to the IDBZ, approximately $1 million will be needed for the feasibility study.
Some engineers who spoke to Business Weekly said while the bridge had outlived its lifespan, it might be early to be deemed unfit to bear the weight of heavy loads.
Source: Iconic Victoria Falls bridge may fail soon (09/03/2018)
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