Likoni Bridge, a Sh1.9bn Landmark, Set for Demolition

Likoni Floating Bridge, which connects Liwatoni and Ras Bofu, Mombasa Island to Likoni mainland, is set for demolition due to congestion at the Mombasa port.

The 824-metre bridge constructed in 2020 by China Road and Bridge Corporation to boost compliance of Covid-19 protocols at the Likoni Channel was to be dismantled in 2025, once the proposed Mombasa Gate Bridge – currently at design stage – becomes operational.

However, the government now intends to expedite the dismantling of the facility in response to complaints from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) that it is causing delays for ships entering or leaving the port.

The bridge is also known as Liwatoni Floating Bridge.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently told the media that the government was contemplating dismantling the bridge that was closed for ‘renovation’ three months ago.

“We are still in conversation, but we really want to do away with that bridge, completely. That bridge has created unnecessary congestion in our port… Once we complete Dongo Kundu Road we don’t need that bridge,” Mr. Murkomen said.

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The closure of the bridge has created a catch-22 situation because, while it has eased congestion at the port, it has caused an increase in human traffic at Likoni Channel. This surge has overwhelmed the three ferries operating there.

Engineering marvel

The bridge project involved construction of pile foundations and a Bailey bridge (a short-term bridge of lattice steel designed for assembly from prefabricated parts) with movable steel bridge at the middle of the channel to allow movement of ships.

Celebrated as an engineering marvel, the Liwatoni Floating Bridge’s design has a 715-metre floating section from north to south of Likoni, with 54-metre approaches on either side of the floating span.

The middle part of the bridge is movable to accommodate ships moving in and out of the channel. For big ships, the bridge has a swing opening of 150 metres width while for small fishing boats, there is a bascule opening of five metres.

Undersea anchors

The floating bridge is temporarily dismantled at least an hour before any vessel docks so that the barge has enough time to withdraw undersea anchors.

The structural integrity of the bridge is assured by the piling of steel anchors, further reinforced by cables designed to be anchored to underwater gravity anchors. These cables adapt the bridge to the horizontal force of the current.

KPA has been operating the bridge, deploying its tag boats to open and close the bridge in case there are ships entering or leaving the Mombasa port.

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