The new Bizerte bridge, one of Tunisia’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, has officially entered its main construction phase. The project, managed by the Chinese consortium Sichuan Engineering, represents a strategic infrastructure for the economic and logistical development of Tunisia.
During a recent monitoring visit to the construction site in Menzel Abderrahmane, the governor of Bizerte, Salem Ben Yacoub, verified the progress of the work, confirming the completion of the geotechnical works and the imminent conclusion of the underwater works by the end of June.
Starting in July, deep drilling will begin to lay the foundations of the two main spans of the bridge. These will extend for over 70 meters below the water level and rise 60 meters above sea level, thus allowing the passage of any type of vessel. With its 2,1 kilometers of length and a metal deck structure covered in reinforced concrete, the bridge will consist of 19 spans. It will be integrated into a road network of over 9 kilometers.
The work, officially started in July 2022 by the will of the president Kais Saied, is being closely monitored at the central, regional and local levels. The overall estimated cost is around 761 million Tunisian dinars (approximately €258 million), with the main part of the project valued at 610 million dinars (€189 million). The investment is supported by joint financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), which has provided €123 million guaranteed by the European Union, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), which has contributed a loan of €122 million. The remainder is covered by the Tunisian state. The expropriation of the necessary land, with total compensation of 45 million dinars (€14 million), was completed before construction began.
Redevelopment work is also underway in the surrounding areas of Jarzouna and Menzel Jemil delegations, with an additional investment of 6,2 million dinars (1,9 million euros). The authorities aim to transform the infrastructure into a driver of development for the region, improving the connection between the inland areas and the Algerian border and enhancing the capacity of the port of Bizerte. Work on the bridge is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2027, while road and link works should be completed within 27 months. Governor Ben Yacoub reiterated the local administration’s commitment to removing any obstacles and to ensuring optimal conditions for the continuation of the works, praising the synergy between public authorities, Tunisian companies and international operators involved.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
