Nigeria once had the longest bridge in Africa. When the Third Mainland Bridge opened in 1990, no other bridge on the continent was longer. Six years later, Egypt completed the 6th October Bridge and took the title.
The 6th October Bridge is still number one today. It covers 18.7 kilometres across Cairo. That makes it almost seven kilometres longer than the Third Mainland Bridge.
This article ranks the ten longest bridges in Africa. You will find their correct lengths, locations, and the places they connect.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- The 6th October Bridge in Egypt is the longest bridge in Africa. It is 18.705 kilometres long.
- Third Mainland Bridge is the longest bridge in Nigeria. It ranks second in Africa at 11.8 kilometres.
- Algeria has the longest railway bridge in Africa. The Oued Daoura Railway Bridge is 4.111 kilometres long.
- Mozambique has four bridges in the top ten.
10 Longest Bridges in Africa
We ranked the longest bridges in Africa using the length of the bridge itself. It does not include approach roads unless they are part of the structure.
It is important to state this because of some bridges like the Suez Canal Bridge. The complete project is nine kilometres long, but five kilometres belong to the roads leading to the bridge. The actual bridge covers about four kilometres.
1. 6th October Bridge, Egypt
The 6th October Bridge is the longest bridge in Africa. It crosses Cairo from the western side of the Nile to the eastern part of the city.
The bridge passes over both branches of the Nile and Gezira Island. Its many entry and exit ramps connect different parts of Cairo to the main route.
Construction happened in stages because of the bridge’s length and location. The finished bridge is 18.705 kilometres long and has 23 entrance and exit ramps.
You may see the bridge listed as 20.5 kilometres in some articles. However, the contractor responsible for the project gives its length as 18.705 kilometres. The bridge is named after 6 October 1973, the day the October War began.
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2. Third Mainland Bridge, Nigeria
The Third Mainland Bridge connects Lagos Island to the Lagos Mainland. The route starts around the Adeniji Adele Interchange and continues across Lagos Lagoon towards Oworonshoki.
The bridge is 11.8 kilometres long and carries eight lanes of traffic. There is also a link around Ebute Metta for vehicles entering or leaving the main route.
Construction happened in two stages. The first section opened in 1980, while the final extension opened in 1990.
Third Mainland Bridge was the longest bridge in Africa when the full route opened. It kept that record until the 6th October Bridge opened in 1996. It is still the second-longest bridge in Africa and the longest in Nigeria.
3. Oued Daoura Railway Bridge, Algeria
The Oued Daoura Railway Bridge is near Béchar in western Algeria. It goes over the wide Oued Daoura riverbed and carries part of the railway between Béchar and the Gara Djebilet mining area.
The bridge is 4.111 kilometres long. It is the longest railway bridge in Africa.
Its place in this ranking is quite new. Construction continued into late 2025, so you will not find the bridge in many older lists of the longest bridges in Africa.
The railway will transport iron ore from the Gara Djebilet mine. The new bridge gives trains a direct route across the riverbed.
4. Suez Canal Bridge, Egypt
The Suez Canal Bridge crosses the canal near El Qantara in Egypt. It connects mainland Egypt to the Sinai Peninsula.
The bridge section is about four kilometres long. The full project covers nine kilometres when the five kilometres of approach roads are included.
Ships pass through the Suez Canal beneath the bridge. The deck is 70 metres above the water, while the towers rise to 154 metres.
The bridge opened in 2001. It is also called the Japan–Egypt Friendship Bridge because Japan funded about 60% of its construction cost.
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5. Dona Ana Bridge, Mozambique
The Dona Ana Bridge connects Sena and Mutarara across the Zambezi River in central Mozambique. It opened to railway traffic in 1935.
The complete crossing is 3.677 kilometres long. The main bridge accounts for 2.992 kilometres, while the remaining sections connect it to both riverbanks.
The bridge has had an unusual history. Train services stopped after it was damaged during Mozambique’s civil war. It reopened as a road bridge in 1995 before returning to railway use after renovation.
A walkway beside the railway allows people to cross on foot or by bicycle. More than 3,000 people use it on an average day.
6. El Hachef Viaduct, Morocco
The El Hachef Viaduct is part of the railway between Tangier and Kenitra in Morocco. Al Boraq, Africa’s first high-speed passenger train, uses this route.
The viaduct is 3.5 kilometres long. It is the longest bridge on the high-speed railway.
Building it was not easy. Some of the foundations go as deep as 70 metres because of the wet ground around the site. The structure also has to withstand strong winds.
The viaduct opened with the Al Boraq service in 2018. Trains on the route can travel at speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour.
7. Mozambique Island Bridge, Mozambique
Mozambique Island Bridge connects Mozambique Island with the mainland at Lumbo. It crosses a narrow part of the Indian Ocean in Nampula Province.
The bridge is about 3.3 kilometres long. Before the bridge opened in 1969, people relied on boats to travel between the island and the mainland. Vehicles and pedestrians now use the bridge.
Mozambique Island was once the capital of Portuguese East Africa. The island became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
8. Maputo–Katembe Bridge, Mozambique
The Maputo–Katembe Bridge crosses Maputo Bay. It links Maputo city with Katembe on the other side of the water.
The bridge is about three kilometres long and opened in 2018. Its main suspended section covers 680 metres.
Maputo–Katembe is the longest suspension bridge in Africa. This does not mean it is the longest bridge on the continent. A suspension bridge is a particular type of bridge supported by cables.
Before the bridge opened, travellers used a ferry or drove around the bay. The new crossing is now a direct road between Maputo and Katembe.
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9. Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge, Mozambique
The Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge crosses the Zambezi River between Caia and Chimuara. It opened in 2009.
The bridge is 2.376 kilometres long. It carries Mozambique’s main north–south road across the river.
Vehicles previously depended on a ferry at this part of the Zambezi. The bridge removed that break from the journey.
The bridge is in central Mozambique and does not cross Maputo Bay.
10. Loukkous Viaduct, Morocco
The Loukkous Viaduct is the second Moroccan bridge in the top ten. It crosses the Loukkos River along the Tangier–Kenitra high-speed railway.
The viaduct is 2.256 kilometres long and has 41 spans. Each span is between 51.6 and 56.5 metres long.
Al Boraq trains use the viaduct when travelling between Tangier and Kenitra. The route later continues towards Rabat and Casablanca.
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Compare the Ten Longest Bridges in Africa
| Rank | Bridge | Country | Length | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6th October Bridge | Egypt | 18.705 km | Road |
| 2 | Third Mainland Bridge | Nigeria | 11.8 km | Road |
| 3 | Oued Daoura Railway Bridge | Algeria | 4.111 km | Railway |
| 4 | Suez Canal Bridge | Egypt | About 4 km | Road |
| 5 | Dona Ana Bridge | Mozambique | 3.677 km | Railway |
| 6 | El Hachef Viaduct | Morocco | 3.5 km | Railway |
| 7 | Mozambique Island Bridge | Mozambique | About 3.3 km | Road |
| 8 | Maputo–Katembe Bridge | Mozambique | About 3 km | Road |
| 9 | Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge | Mozambique | 2.376 km | Road |
| 10 | Loukkous Viaduct | Morocco | 2.256 km | Railway |
Mozambique has four bridges in the top ten. Egypt and Morocco have two each, while Nigeria and Algeria have one.
The first two bridges are far longer than the others. Third Mainland Bridge is more than seven kilometres longer than the Oued Daoura Railway Bridge in third place.
Other Longest Bridges in Africa
Several African bridges do not make the top ten by total length, but they are still worth mentioning.
Kazungula Bridge
Kazungula Bridge connects Botswana and Zambia across the Zambezi River. It opened in May 2021 and is 923 metres long.
The bridge has a road and pedestrian paths. Space has also been provided for a railway line. It replaced the ferry that previously carried vehicles across the river.
Mkapa Bridge
Mkapa Bridge crosses the Rufiji River in Tanzania. It is about 970 metres long and opened in 2003.
The bridge improved the main road connection between northern and southern Tanzania. It is named after Benjamin Mkapa, the country’s former president.
Source of the Nile Bridge
The Source of the Nile Bridge crosses the Nile in Jinja, Uganda. It is 525 metres long and opened in 2018.
Its main span covers 290 metres. The bridge carries traffic on the Northern Corridor, which connects Uganda with other parts of East Africa.
Julius Nyerere Bridge
The Julius Nyerere Bridge connects Dar es Salaam with Kigamboni in Tanzania. It was formerly known as Kigamboni Bridge.
The bridge is about 680 metres long. It replaced much of the daily dependence on ferries between the two sides of Kurasini Creek.
Msikaba Bridge
Msikaba Bridge links the Msikaba River gorge in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. It is part of the N2 Wild Coast road project.
The bridge is known for the length of its main cable-supported span. It does not rank among the ten longest bridges in Africa by total length, but its span makes it one of the continent’s major bridge projects.
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Conclusion
The 6th October Bridge in Egypt is the longest bridge in Africa at 18.705 kilometres. Third Mainland Bridge follows at 11.8 kilometres.
The gap between both bridges and the rest of the list is clear. Algeria’s Oued Daoura Railway Bridge ranks third at 4.111 kilometres.
Mozambique has the highest number of entries, with four bridges in the top ten. Egypt and Morocco have two each. Nigeria and Algeria complete the ranking with one bridge each.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Longest Bridges in Africa
What Is the Longest Bridge in Africa?
The 6th October Bridge in Cairo is the longest bridge in Africa. It is 18.705 kilometres long.
What Is the Second-Longest Bridge in Africa?
Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos is the second-longest bridge in Africa. It measures 11.8 kilometres.
What Is the Longest Bridge in Nigeria?
Third Mainland Bridge is the longest bridge in Nigeria. The complete route opened in 1990.
Which Country Has the Most Bridges in Africa’s Top Ten?
Mozambique has four bridges in the top ten. They are Dona Ana Bridge, Mozambique Island Bridge, Maputo–Katembe Bridge and Armando Emilio Guebuza Bridge.
What Is the Longest Railway Bridge in Africa?
The Oued Daoura Railway Bridge in Algeria is the longest railway bridge in Africa. It measures 4.111 kilometres.
Is Maputo–Katembe the Longest Bridge in Africa?
No. Maputo–Katembe is the longest suspension bridge in Africa. The longest bridge overall is the 6th October Bridge in Egypt.
Sources
- The Arab Contractors: 6th October Bridge
- Institution of Civil Engineers: Third Mainland Bridge
- Algérie Presse Service: Oued Daoura Railway Bridge
- JICA: Suez Canal Peace Bridge
