FARAFFENI/BARRA (Gambia), Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A gleaming new bridge across the Gambia River in West Africa is transforming transport between Gambia and Senegal.
Gambia is a sliver of land on either side of the river cutting through the middle of the much larger Senegal, the product of a colonial-era deal between Britain and France staking a claim to each.
The absurd geography means anyone crossing from northern to southern Senegal or vice-versa has to enter Gambia and, before the bridge, join long queues to cross the river. The wait for the ferry could take up to a week.
The 1.9 km (1.2-mile) Senegambia bridge, which opened to cars and minibuses last week, changed all that.
“I’m happy about this bridge,” 42-year-old traveller Amadou Bah said of the concrete structure stretching high over the river from one mangrove-lined shore to the other. “Vehicles just come and pass without any delay.”
Trucks will not be allowed on the bridge until July and drivers can hardly wait.
“A few months ago, I spent 10 days (at the ferry terminal) before it was my time to cross,” Senegalese truck driver Mawdo Saine said as he waited to board a boat at Barra, a rusting ferry terminal on the sandy riverbank. — NNN-AGENCIES
